The Sun.
London, England, 1844-01-03 00:00:00

one of the Bills passed by the two Legislative Houses—
, that is, the Secret Societies Bill. If there is any part
of the functions of the Governor in which he is more
than in any other bound to exercise an independent
judgment, it must be in giving the Royal assent to Acts
of Parliament. With regard to this duty he has special
instructions from her Majesty's Secretary to reserve
every Act of an unusual or extraordinory character.
Undoubtedly the Secret Societies Bill answers that de-
scription, being unexampled in British legislation. The
gentlemen of the late Council had his sentiments on it
expressed to them. He told them that it was an arbi-
trary and unwise measure, and not even calculated to
effect the object it had in view.
" He had given his consent to its being introduced into
Parliament, because he-had promised soon after his as-
sumption -of the - government that he would sanction
legislation on the subject as a substitute for executive
measures, which he refused to adopt on account of their
proscriptive character, although he deprecates the ex-
istence of societies which tend to. foment religious and
civil discord. The gentlemen of the late Council cannot
fail to remember with what pertinacity those measures
were pressed on him, and can hardly but be aware of
what would have followed at that time if, in addition to
rejecting the proscriptive measures urged, he had re-
fused to permit any legislation on the subject. Permis-
sion to introduce a Bill cannot be properly assumed as
fettering the judgment of the Government with regard
to the Royal assent, for much may happen during the
passage of the Bill through the Legislature to influence
his decision. In this case the Bill was strongly opposed
an 4 reprobated in the Assembly, but when it went to the
Legislative Council many of the members had seceded,
and it dui not come up from that House with the advan-
tage of having been
.passed in a full meeting. Taking
these circumstances into consideration, together with the
precise instructions of her Majesty and the uncertainty
of her Majesty's allowing such a Bill to go into opera-
tion, the Governor-General considered it to be his duty
to reserve it for her Majesty's consideration, as it was
much better that it should not go into operation until
confirmed by her Majesty's Government, than that it
should be discontinued after its operation bad commenced.
" In conclusion, the Governor-General protests against
the explanation which those gentlemen propose to offer
to Parliament, as omitting entirely the actual and pro-
minent circumstances which led to their resignation ;
and as conveying to Parliament a misapprehension of
his sentiments and intentions which has no foundation
in any part of his conduct, unless his refusal to make a
virtual surrender of the prerogative of the Crown to the
Council for party purposes, and his anxiety to do justice
to those who were injured by the arrangements attend-
ing the union, can be regarded as warranting a repre-
sentation which is calculated to injure him without just
cause in the opinion of the Parliament and the people,
on whose confidence he places his sole reliance for the
successful administration of the government.
"Government-house, Nov. 28, 1843."
On Saturday, the 9th ultimo, the Governor-General
prorogued the Parliament to Monday, January 15, in
the following speech :
"Hon. Gentlemen of the Legislative Council, and
Gentlemen of the Legislative Assembly,
" In consequence of the interruption which our joint
labours have undergone, entirely against my inclination,
and from causes over which I have had no control, I now
meet you for the purpose of relieving you from further
attendance in Parliament. I am sensible of your unre-
mitting application to your arduous duties during the
session which has been so unexpectedly shortened, and
I trust that the measures which you have passed, and
to which I have given the Royal Assent in her Majesty's
name, will prove beneficial to the country. Some Bills I
have been under the necessity of reserving for the consi-
deration of her Majesty's Government, either from the
impracticability of their being carried into execution,
owing to their depending on other measures which have
not passed into law, or from their affecting the preroga-
tive of the Crown, or being of a character that, under the
Royal instructions, renders that proceeding imperative.
" Gentlemen of the House of Assembly,
" I thank you for the readiness with which you have
voted the necessary supplies. It will be my duty to take
care that they be disbursed with the utmost economy
consistent with the efficiency of the public service.
" Hon. Gentlemen and Gentlemen,
" I trust that on your return to your homes you will,
by precept and example, endeavour to secure the bless-
ings and harmony of brotherly love among all classes of
the community. Peace and happiness will render our
country a desirable place of refuge for the superfluous
population of the parental state, whose settling here is
fraught with benefit to themselves and the colony ; while
discord and strife must have the opposite effect of deter-
ring them from connecting their destinies with those of
a country unceasingly troubled. I humbly hope that the
blessings of the Almighty will render this a prosperous
and happy land, reaping the fruits of its own industry,
and enjoying the powerful protection of our Gracious
Sovereign as an integral portion of the British empire.
I will now, Gentlemen, say ffirewell; and I trust that we
shall meet again to renew our efforts for the public good
with greater success."

CORN AND CURRENCY LAWS.

TO TINE EDITOR OF THE MORNING PONT.

Sir,—l have received your paper of the 20th instant,
containing my letter of the 14th of August last, and your
comments upon the same, which call for some further
remarks from me upon the all-important subject of a
general protection to agriculture and commerce through
an alteration of the monetary laws, instead of the
partial and uncertain protection now afforded by the
corn-laws. I have no object whatever in recommending
a total repeal of the corn-laws, with the proposed alter-
ation in the money laws, except to relieve the agricul-
turists of the odium which the maintenance of the laws
casts upon them. My purpose would bo nearly accom-
plished by only raising the nominal value of the ounce
of silver to the desired nominal value of the bushel of
wheat, which would render the present corn-laws
nugatory, excepting in the few cases when a great
scarcity raises the price very far above the general aver-
age. The only reason why I have named 7s. 6d. per
ounce is that it appears generally acknowledged that
7s. 6d. is a remunerating price, but it is of very little
importance to society at large whether the price of wheat
be 7s. 6d. or Ss., or even 10s. per bushel, provided the
ounce of silver be raised to the relative value.

You make me admit that the corn-law was a wise mea-
sure, because I say that its objects and effect were to in-
crease the value of English labour, but this is not a
correct view of the subject. The intention of the law was
was right, but the working of it bad and unjust, because
it only partially supported the wages of labour. The
law was a very unwise one, in my opinion—it was insti-
tuted to prevent the ruinous prices of agricultural pro-
duce which the liability to return to specie payments
within six months after the •peace, at the old and long
unused standard of value, produced in 1814 ; the com-
plete operation of which was partially suspended by cir-
cumstances till 1819, has never been permanently or fully
carried out ,and never will be till prices fall to the conti-
nental level Had the promoters of the corn-laws in
1815 understood what they were doing, they would
have obtained their protection by coining the precious
metals of that nominal value which their corn had
obtained during the war by the depreciation in the value
of the unredeemable paper money. By that plan they
would not only have perfectly protected themselves, but
would also have protected all other interests. You say
that it appears to you, "if both laws were repealed, mat-
ters would remain muc,y as they are at present ;" but
you forget that I do nOt;arone.propose the abolition of
the two laws, I also propose-to alter the nominal price of
silver from ss. 2d. to 7s. ad. per ounce, in which the
Bank would pay its notes ; and in this alteration lies all
my contemplated protection and improvement ; it would
protect produce and labour in England 50 per cent.
against foreign produce and labour. As the laws now
stand, the protection to agriculture, although very in-
sufficient, is destructive of our foreign trade, absorbing
all its profits; and, if persisted in, an unprofitable state
of things, like the last four years, will continue. If, how-
ever, as is probable, the corn-laws alone are repealed,
the money interest will take possession of the land, an&
the interest of the debt will not be paid. To convince
yourself of the soundness of my views you should refer
to the state of agriculture in 1800 to 1614 ; the corn-
laws of that time were quite useless, for the price of
corn was always above the protecting price ; and that
price was alone maintained by the depreciation in the
value of the pound sterling. It was not the war which
made high prices--all previous wars made low prices ;
it was the new monetary measures which made high
nominal prices. Then why should not the same prin-
ciple now produce the same results? You and your
friends, seek for high nominal prices through a corn law
which only partially protects you, and ruins others. I
seek for the same high nominal prices through a corre-
sponding alteration of the coins, which would, I contend,
protect all interests equally, and therefore justly and
permanently.
Trusting that these few remarks from a practical
tradesman of nearly forty years' extensive experience
may be interesting to your readers, I remain, yours
respectfully, G. F. MUNTZ.
Ley Hall, near Birmingham, Dec. 22.

DETENTION OF THE OVERLAND INDIAN MAIL.—
A notice of which the following is a copy has been issued
by command of the Postmaster-General, and was put up
yesterday at the General Post-office, St. Martin's-le-
Grand, and the several branch offices :—" The closed
mail for India via Marseilles detained. Letters in time
on the 6th inst. (Saturday next)."
MORE INCENDIARISM.—Information was received
on Monday, at Bow-street, that on the night of the 26th
large ladder, a quantity of elm
ult., or early on the following morning, a large wheat
hovel, a rick of beans, andone of barley, six tons of straw,
bseovaerdnsl,oaand
loads ofab osututbtbhlier,ty yards of rick staddles, the a
Onth
pro-
perty of Mr. Daniel Simons, of Middlemoor, in the bo-
rough of Daventry, were maliciously fired, and totally
destroyed. A reward of ten guineas has been offered
for the apprehension of the ince
e ndiaries, and a similar
sroemwaerddebniyon Ailarc.alltocpeset fire to the farm
buildings and ricks of Mr. James Speller, of High
Roothing, Essex, whereby the same were totally de-
stroyed. A reward of 150 L has been offered for the
apprehension of the incendiaries. In both of the above
cases Sir J. Graham has offered a free pardon to any
person not being the actual incendiary, who will give
such information as may lead to conviction.
hr
persons wilfully night of the 22d ult.,
FREEMASONRY IN /
•VoncEsTEn..--(From a Corres-
pondent.)—The brethren of the Worcester Lodge, No.
349, celebrated the festival of St. John on Wednesday
last, by a banquet at the Masonic Hall, Broad-street.
The lodge was opened in form at four o'clock, and about
five the brethren were called from labour to refreshment.
1 The worshipful master, Brother Joseph Bennett, pre-
sided, assisted by Brother Richard Varden as S. W. (in
the absence of Brother Knight, from a severe domestic
affliction), and Brother Rising, J. W. Covers were laid
for 50, and 52 brethren sat down to a repast comprising
every seasonable delicacy. A magnificent dessert of
pines, grapes, and other suitable accompaniments, with
excellent wines, succeeded, an,. a
the evening was passed
-i; ith true masonic touviviitlity.