The Sun.
London, England, 1844-12-17 00:00:00

THEATRE ROYAL, ADELPHI.
NOTICE.

ilyo-MORRO W EVENIN produced, by the especial per.
mission of Charles Dickens, Esq.,
THE CHIMES;
A Goblin story of Some Bells that Rang an Old Year Out and a New

Year In.
The Scenery roan the Original Sketches or Dan;el Maclise, ILA
Clarkson Stanfield, R.A., John Leech, and R. Doyle.
The Story Dramatised by Mark Lemon and Gilbert A'Beckett.

PRINCESS'S THEATRE, OXFORD-STREET.
LESSEE. Mr. J. Id. MADDOX.

THIS EVENING, DECEMBER 17,
'M be repeated a New Comic Opera, entitled THE CASTLE
OF AYMON; or, The Four Brothers. Baron de Beamanoir,
Mr. Walton ; Olivier, Mr. Allen; Allard, Mr. C. Horn, Jun.;
l Richard, Mr. Himo ; Re Laud, Mr. Mattacks; Iron, Mr. LoSlcr;
Hermine, Mdlle, Helen Conde'l ; Gertru 'e, Mrs. Fosbroke.
After which, MY WIFE'S SECOND FLOOR. Mr. Felix
Toddle, Mr. Waltor Licy; Jacob Close, Mr. Compton; Mrs. T 0,..
heavy, Mrs. Biougliam.
To conclude with a New Grand Orieatal Ballet, called THE
ENCIIANrEo BELL. Azolin (an Hiadan Peasant), M. Roussett ;
Palmira (the Sultan's Daughter), Mille. Caroline Iloussott; Naire
(her Frieml), Mdlle. Teresine; Ding Dailg (the Genii of the Bell),
Miss MarshalL
Stage Manager Mr. H. I. Wallack. Stage Director, Mr. Emden,
Machinist, Mr. ,Manager,
BradwelL
_ .

Friday last was distinguished by the proceedings
of two remarkable public meetings, at which certain
home truths were announced and discussed, that
cannot be too often or too prominently enforced upon
public attention. The one of these meetings was
that of the " Agricultural Protection Society for
Great Britain and Ireland," at which his Grace the
Duke of RICHMOND presided; the other, of farmers,
&c., assembled (on the occasion of coming up to
London to attend the Christmas Cattle Show) for
the purpose of promoting the repeal of the malt-tax.
These parties assembled at the Freemasons' Tavern;
and A. SPOTTISWOODE, Esq., who happened to be
present as a spectator, was unanimously voted into the
chair. 'With regard to the former of these meetings,
our own objections to the principle of such agricul-
tural protection as the farming interest have hitherto
sought, especially in their demands for the repeal of
the Canada Flour Bill, the new tariff, &c., have been so
of:en enforced, that we shall not here enter upon the
arguments we might otherwise be disposed to ad-
duce in refutation of it. But we must fairly own
that some of the speakers, at both meetings, pointed
out with great force, and in language to which
we heartily respond, the enormous injustice
of the pressure of indirect taxation on the pro-
dui ing classes, whose wages throughout the last few
years have been so fearfully reduced, and the enor-
mous evil of a state of things which goes on multi-
plying the power and the sum of production, but
fearfully cramping the scope of the distribution of its
products. It was, however a tthe Freemasons' Tavern.
meeting that this last fact was most emphatically
demonstrated, and its indivisible connexion with our
existing monetary system fearfully established. The
experience of every day confirms our own melancholy
impressions on this subject ; and it is matter of some
congratulation that the pressure of losi prices and the
other influences produced by vicious and fluctuating
legislation, in the shape of corn-laws and commercial
prohibitions and restrictions, has not so pre-occupied
or prejudiced the minds of the intelligent farmers, who
are endeavouring to obtain the repeal of the MALT•TAX,
as to blind them to the operation of one out of two of
the great causes of industrial distress in this coun-
try. They most truly declared that that is a
scheme of crying injustice which on the fright-
fully diminished wages of labouring industry continues
to levy, annually, the vastly larger proportion of that
indirect taxation which it was the meaning of the
Legislature, at its original imposition, to visit upon
the wealthy and the middling classes above them.
And undoubtedly it is an infinite aggravation of the
cruelty of such an unrighteous transfer of a most
grievous burden from the shoulders of these classes
to their own, when the indirect fax is collected on a
commodity which is not less than a necessary of life
for them, but which, not ranking as an article of
luxury or refinement, scarcely enters at all into the
subsistence of the more fortunate classes of the com-
munity. In this light the malt-tax is essentially a
penal visitation on poverty, the consumer; and it is
protanto, a boon to wealth or competency, the non:.
consumer, whose contribution to the public income is
decreased by the very five millions, the yield of the
malt duties—thus wrung from the famishing indus-
trial poor. But why is that vast section of the people
reduced to this extreme poverty, who are its producing
classes ? It is certain that their labour is far, more
severe, and more continuous, notwithstanding all the
improvements of machinery, in turning out or raising
the various products and commodities to which it is
applied, than it was five-and-twenty years ago. It is
The ferment throughout the diocese of Exeter, in indisputable that five-and-twenty years ago their
consequence of the Bishop's late Pastoral Letter, sti:l is ages, fur lighter and less protracted labour, were
continues unabated. The parishioners of Tavistoek, very much higher. Then the great question with all
and several other t awns an 1 villages, have already as.
who are alive to the inexpressible importance of
sembled, or are abeut to assemble, in vestry on the
providing for industrial labour the means of subsisting
subject, while in the cathedral city of Exeter itself itself, still remains—What is the cause of these re-
there is scarcely a single parish that has not expressed dosed, inadequate, stinted wages
strongly in disapproval of the proposed innovations. The farmers, finding these much oppressed classes
under the same visitation as themselves, though in a
St. Martin's is among the latest, though not the least
active, of those that have entered into the field of more intense degree from depressed prices, rightly
enough make common cause with them in demanding,
controversy; and at a vestry meeting which took
place in that church on Saturday last, it was moved, as a remedial measure, a repeal of the malt-tax. But
among other equally emphatic resolutions, that, be- ss ere that repeal conceded to-morrow, it would
lieving the safety of Government to be founded on not, singly, either rectify the existing depreciation of
the purity, unity, and truth of the Established Re- the industrial classes ; or arrest its downward
lig,ion, purged, as it has long been, of the errors of tendency. It would be but "a" means, inter
Romanism, the p trishioners were extremely jealous of ulna, for improving their condition, or that of the
any attempts to restore dormant rubrics, canons, farmers. The true, primal, pervading, permanent
forms, ceremonies, or vestments, which might have cause of the evils which both have to deplore, is our
the effect of making even a true religion suspected to present monetary system ; the monster progeny of
be .a fahe one. In consequence, evidently, of this the Currency Bill of 1819, increased and invigorated
by its ill-favoured successor of 1843. It is with
strong expression of public opinion throughout his
diocese on the part of the laity, the Bishop of EXETER pleasure, therefore, that we find Mr. SPOTTISWOODZ
(the Chairman, we believe, of a Society having for
has deemed it expedient—as Sir ROBERT PEEL. Would
say —to address a letter to a rural dean, wherein he
its object the repeal of those statutes, and the re-
states his readiness to permit his clergy to postpone e.stablishment of the currency on a practical, long-
the use of the surplice in preaching till the first tested, and common••aense basis, instead of
Sunday in January next, but aftet that_ time, as we abstract principles, false in theory, and pre-
gatherpneterous failures when carried into execution),
on peril of incurring his sovereign displeasure.
from his communication, they are to wear itf
was called by the farmers to preside over their
there are any so perverse," adds his Lordship, "as to discussions. They could not have deliberated under
the auspices of a better-informed, more extensive, or
deny to the Bishop the right to niche such an order,
and if they threaten to leave the Church on account more practical judgment on the currency question
.
of it, use with them all Christian persuasion ; let them than his own. Indeed, they must have felt that the
vicious state of our currency laws was at the bottom
see th it it is not really the surplice which is here the
of the disastrous condition of the malt consumers;
point at issue, but it is the right and duty of the for their very first resolution concluded with a decla-
Bishop. The real question, in short, is whether there ration of the paramount necessity for "a removal of
shall be authority or not. Those who sly there shall
these taxes and a revision of the currency." At the
not, must be already separated in heart; and we dare
Agricultural Protection Society's meeting, having
not sacrifice a necessary principle to their pleasure."
the'err Dukeo OND in the chair, Mr. ALLNUTT,
It will be seen by the above extract from his letter,
a very
v able agriculturist—and speaker—thus ex.
that, notwithstanding his studious affectation of the
pressed himself:—
conciliatory, the Bishop of EXETER sticks firm to his
" It was thought that the farmers of England might be
text, and will insist—no matter how distasteful his -port for theorists like those who, enjoying great wealth
innovations may be to the laity of his diocese—on themselves, had, perhaps, few opportunities, or but little
the fullest and m Ist unhesitating obedience being inclination to look fairly at the question at issue—and he
paid to his orders. For three week briger his clergy regretted to say that, as the wealth of the many had sac-
cumulated in the hands of the few, the very laws which
may still continue to preach in the old accustomed had been brought forward, from'
thepassing of that
black gown, hut after that time, on must go the white wicked measure the Currency Bill, down to the " conaple-
surplice ! Fiat justitia, rout cerium. The episcopal went," as Sir Robert Peel called the Bank Charter Bill—
mandatethat there had appeared.. to be one prevailing spiritin these
must be obeyed, even though the obedienceoytteevearliueergoifes
in-
involve the safety of the Established Church. We say dmuTt'rtiloruess—cla"szsesa, and to enhancedetr mofontheye
bnothing of the Right Rev. Prelate's rich and intempe- diminishing the produce of the soil—the produce of that
rate
soil on which honest men formerly existed, but which
rate conduct in insisting on the revival of this and
.n. . n ,w unfortunately was converted into tangible heavy
other obsolete usages, but think of his glaring gold, that. found its place in the pockets of our legis-
consistency ! For many of the best years of his lators, while the farmers were robbed and drained of the
life he was one
of the most active and determined op-
last shilling in their pockets."
-4 #24lo44ullifvf aislicistnsh7lent ever posse Ase I. He was ain every form and varlet
And at the Freemasons' Tavern, another and very
eminent farmer and agriculturist ofEssex, Mr. &tame,
i y
ang Protestant, if possible, than of Writtle, still more distinctly insisted on this pan-
ne ablest pamphlets he e • mount topic :
!er "in a spirit of furious opUnless somethinre done for the roduein
position classes—unless there were we
some efforts made tpo remove

Dress Circle, sa. ; Boxes, 4s. ; Pit, 25.; Gallo Is. Half-price at
Nine o'clock—Dress Circle,2s. 6d. ; Boxes, 2s. ; Pit, lg.; Gallery, 6d.
Private Boxes, Two Guineas and One Guinea and a-Half ; Prosce-
nium Boxes, Two Guineas and a-Hilf. Doors to be opened at Half..
oast Six, and the Performances to commence at Seven o'clock.
The Bex_otlice, under the direction of Mr. W. Massingh sm.
Private Sexes and Free Ad.nissions for the Season to be had at the
lh. at e.

H e.ATRE ROYAL LYCEUM, LATE ENGLISH OPERA-
HOUSE.
Under the Management 05 Mrs. KEELEY.
Signor Camillo SI VORI for This Night only.
THIS EVENINtf, DECEMBER 17,
Will be repeated a New Farce, called A TRIPTO KISSINGEN.
Charactets by Messrs. Wigan, Kin oth, Stanton, Collier, Yarnold,
Turner, Stoker, and Keeley, Mrs. Wigan and Mrs. Keeley.
To be succeeded by the First Part of Sivot Ps Concerto, No. 11.,'
Signor Camolo Sivori.
• Atter which, a New Farce, called TO PERSONS ABOUT TO
MARR e. Supported by Messrs. F. Mathews, Meadows, and Stoker,
Miss Arden, Mrs. Wigan, and Mrs. Woolli4ge.
To which will I,e a idea Pagan.ni's Thyme Burlesque and Carnaval
de Veni.c, by Signor Cami to sive&
To he followed by THE SWISS COTTAGE. Characters by
Messrs. W.gan, Y mild, Keeley, and Ars. Keeley.
In t: e coor,e of the Evenint; A DIVERTISSEMENT, in wiz ich
Jull. en's Mazurka and Cellanus Valse will be danced by .vldlles.
LoniKe and Adele, Miss James, and Miss Fairhrother. •
To c. nchule with a New Comedietta, entitled WATCH AND ,
WAR!). Toe charm:, ers by Messrs. F. Mathews, Kinloch, and A.
Wigan ; Miss Fairbrother, and Mts. A. Wigan.
Pr ICES e A 1)k.11,SIO isatcooy I:oxes. 4+.; Upper
B),s, Ss. ; Caleri,Gd. Second Price—Balcony Boxes, 2.. ;
Upper Roses, 14. 6d.; Pit, Is. Prirate Boxes OR the vt-oclny Tier
(hot ling eight persons), Tao fiuineas Private Boxes on the Second
Tier (holding eight persons), One Guinea and a-Half. Private
B se- on the Fit Ti2r (holding six persons), One Guire.l,
free Box. 'lice is open from Ten to Four o'Clock, under the direc-
tion Mr. Grogan, late of Covent-garden Theatre.

Great attraction every Evening—Squire Batty's Hounds meet This
Evening, at
ASTI. ROYAL tiMelit'l iIEATRE OF ARTY.
. Prnnrietor and Mar;ager, Mr. W RATTY.
THIS EVENING, DECEMBETI 17,
Will be repeated a New Spectacle, entitlel THE ROYAL FOX
HUNT; or, I'he Race-,for e and Life's Course of Man and Steed ;
intr...ducing unequaled Natim al Fete,. Heal Fox-chaie on the Stage
and in the Circle by living Fo• and real Pack of Hounds, purchased
bz..olr. Batty
aontdNoltrhe'rrastgrTil,gl, gatruerael,ise this novel production.
New Scenes of the Lircle, and entirc change in the Feati of Horse-
manship.
The Fir•t Week of the extraordinary B.itish Vault'r and
Somersault Thrower, Mr Price, and Ma=ter ChaVes Pi ice, the Littlii
Equestrian Wonder, and other Novelt es.

Acting an Atage.:n mager, Mr. W Broadfoot.
Box-office open from Eleven till Five. Lessons in the Art of Riding
tv Mr. R. smith daily.
Mr. BATTY begs to a-quaint the Nobility, Gentry, and his
Patrons, that, in compliance with numerous requests from the
country, and by srocial desire, he has formed ar anvements to pre-
sent, during the Christmas Iloidayq a S ries of FQOF.STRI AN
MORNINO FETES and FASHIONABLE DAY PERFORM.
A NCE, to commence at Half-past One, and term.nate at Half-past
Three: consisting of Batty's Salendid rues of Equitat:on in the
C rcle. Th., first Three Morning Performances will take place on
Monday, Dec.3l, Wednesday, Jan. 2, aril Friday, Jan. 4.

‘.7. Triarti ypcom, pros,
c;: .4.iyeu Lord -Eimer
(
-, ►tote were writer
I _ , '. .

~'

r; _r`,,
~ ~ ~,

N. itql