The Sun.
London, England, 1844-02-29 00:00:00

EAST INDIA HOUSE.

THANKS TO THE SINDIAN ARMY.
Yesterday a Special Court of the Proprietors of
48-st India Stock, was held at the East India House, con-
Lert,ed by the Court of Directors, for the purpose of
bYmg before the meeting resolutions of thanks adopted
thee Executive body of the Corporation, in reference
recent military operations in Sinde. The Chair
Las taken by Mread.r. John Cotton, and the minutes of tho
14,10o:urt were
k The Cita.IRMAN acquainted the Court that since the
meeting various papers relative to compensation, &C.,
nhoad presented to Parliament, copies of which were
1.,' laid on the Proprietors' table. He (the Chairman)
the i he had to acquaint the Court of Proprietors, that it
th been specially summoned to consider resolutions
woutld linaodw be read.
been passed by the Court of Directors, which
The Clerk then read the following resolutions :
4,
At a Court of Directors, held on Tuesday, the 20th of
4"narY 1844
44 b
te esolved, b the ballot—That the thanks of this Court
pSven to Major-General Sir Charles Napier, Knight Grand
iZof the Most Honourable Order of the Bath, for the emi-
teilt energy, and gallantry displayed by him in the re-
!nilitary operations in Sinde, particularly in the two
"give battles of Meeanee and Hyderabad.
beult!B°lved unanimously—That the thanks of this Court
kliven to the several officers of the army both European
for .native, serving under Major-General Sir Charles Napier,
heir unwearied zeal and conspicuous gallantry.
o_▪ ttesolved unanimously—That this Court cloth highly ap-
tliZe and acknowledge the brave and meritorious conduct
`l4•
7ed by the non-commissioned officers and private sol-
• Doth luropean and native, engaged in the operations of
and that this resolution be signified to them by the
--'etanders of the several corps." .
entlemen, when we last met in, this Court we were
Istegett,. in a discussion of the policy and justice of the
fete Proceedings in Sinde. We are now met under dif-
nt circumstances. I am not about to say one word
lisatP the policy of what has been done; that is certainly
info the present question. My duty is now with
in. tart services, and with military services alone; and
4 that view I desire to present to your notice Major-
hiestleral Sir Charles Napier and the gallant force under
•to command in Sinde. You are all aware, that after a
Cr distinguished career in the Peninsular war, Sir
of arthles Napier was placed by her Majesty on the staff
arrny in India, and that he was removed in Au-
• 18,4 from the quiet station at Poonah, to the
nt command of the British forces in •
N Beloochistan-
,nde. Whilst executing this military command,
beeTy to send his troops against the Beloochees, and,
hip--")4BaY, what has been admitted and declared by the
vlt military authorities in this country, that in the
rlnance of his duty he displayed remarkable vigour
atii skill, and undaunted courage, and obtained brilliant
dstdecisive victories over large bodies of a brave and
tiei3' ermined enemy, under circumstances of unusual
febui,d and danger. The particular exploits are so
ultr to you and the public, that it would be an un-
of tl,starY occupation of your time to enter into a detail
kki",,,,"L Suffice it to say, that the battles of Meeanee
Nikuiderabad may be considered as worthy of being
Iletal among the most brilliant achievements of the
qui—u• army. I must further add, that the staunch
Ilities of the British soldiers and sepoys were seldom
lis 'to greater trials, or more successfully estab-
tip ' than in those battles, and the medals for dis-
k:4B4d services in the field were never better or
fe gallantly earned than those which are to be con-
<it nn. the brave troops engaged on these memorable
ns• Gentlemen, - the motion which I have to
The to you shall now be read.
.4esomi..Clerk read the motion, which was an echo of the
t'na passed by the Court of Directors.
404.- mAMEs LAW LUSEINGToN rose to second the mo-
lts
_,As having been connected with the army of India,
To 4u great pleasure in supporting the resolutions.
to ensure unanimity the resolutions had been framed
Lilt to avoid discussion, and that the thanks to Sir
)oith"ea Napier, and the army of Sinde, mig,ht be passed
tiev?ut opposition. For himself he could not suffi-
eon "Y express his admiration of the undaunted
lige, skill, and nerseverence that had been displayed
fumtaLshait„gallar'it officer.—(Cheers.)' He had indeed shown
e gallant
a master of the art of war. His Grace the Duke
te euington had expressed himself in the strongest
essr444d _ as to the manner in which Sir Charles Napierhad
ofttetteted the great operations in Sinde. That gallant
or was not only entitled to the thanks of the Court
try ''Prietors, but to the lasting gratitude of the coun-
lii‘Vßear.) The promptitude that had been exhi-
Aid In the attacks of the Sindians at Meeanee and
tile -"abed, without scarcely an hour's delay, deserved
,tlZeuest praise. He (Sir J. L. Lushington) hoped
the '7 (mid- be no dissentients to the motion. As to
eopoUr of the troops, blith European and native, there
slug_ I_4 but one opiirnae(llear.) lheir courage
,Artn equal to that' the best of the British army.
to vi.'3,la.LivAsi said he must object to the resolution,
That Ira he would give his most strenuous opposition.
-,„" Proprietor then went into the history of the
He el„,",ars and the conduct pursued towards the Ameers.
at,"rd Copiously from the " Blue books," but as the
neliitt: "as already been sufficiently referred to in the
it 4-8 in Parliament, and at the East India House,
.to th4:.,,t necessary to report this portion of his address
Lukd the,,,,,,oPtion of preserving peace, but he preferred
1411,_ th:" Gallant General held the pen in one hand,
ventletf,,aword in the other. He (Mr. Sullivan) ap-
ecetA den-i•h'ne skill and valour of Sir Charles Napier, but
his policy. He had resolved to attack the
!tle„ci a, wherever he found them. The war was a bloody
Charlton one, and therefore he could not thank Sir
enntend
_futPier or his army. There had not been, he
Ie tWeus the least necessity to move a single troop.
of th-ted the Proprietors would not stain the records
tiona-,l‘,court by having inserted upon them the resolu-
ait had been come to by the Court of Directors.
toeft,,ul move it direct negative to them, and wished
tor the proceedings of the Court of Directors on
e übject.
tlie
Mr
iiilELbmit asked if there were any dissents among
waTahietociroaorsidi:Llzie proposition ?
replied in the negative. It was not
ee the proceedings of the Court of Direc-
lottr is upon matters brought before them. He should ob-
Lto the reasons being given.
ttiveoltirr:ieWtoErErsnso said had he known the course the Hon.
(Mr. Sullivan) intended to adopt, he would
14,(nne prepared to rebut the statements that had
lie`utY been made. A perusal of the papers that had
• Presented to the affairs of Sinde, had con-
* Iltteed h. -
set" Ira. It, s ing) that Sir apter e
' h umanity as well as for his military
to th .)1' In one of the dispatches he wrote
disci 1. - •neral that he kept up the strictest
pr test the people of the country.
deseh,e 4'.;f' ecinee, while emerging from the
Afte.'"rin- ...ad ts pitiform the most extraordinary duties.
10, the battle .1111 f Hyderabad, the wounded Be-
liaTbees, who foughrunder the belief that no quarter
d be gistentliiiere Collected, while the sword
aist,„searcely been put: into' the scabbard,
. and as-
:l;thiree rendered to, those • unfortunate individuals.
. atu.,,er all these circumstances, he (Mr. Weeding) was
Pro,,ll_.Bed at the maw ish opposition of the Honourable
iletOr.
ri t If •
—"aloiktitsoppvosedto the vote of thanks. The
Th•
eaut General wirsthAlantin war. That was his animus.
akottgentof Sinde was sick and tired of war, but his was
krttinneess (Egrotut animo magis quam corpore.
MixErc held that this was not a political but a
strrqUestion.—(Hear, hear.)
kaki WINING expressed regret that a unanimous vote
taiht not be tome to. There had been a combination of
NtutteY skill and humanity, which was so distinguished a
tottl rie nn the part of English commanders. The highest 1
I?huliPlin'ent had been paid to Sir Charles Napier by the '
In •
Ii(:(1°f Wellington, -whose military career commenced
1f5..1,...41 and was crowned at the battle of Waterloo. He
tht• tak-rining) would most cordially support a vote of
mid a to Sir Charles Napier, and the gallant officers
Mr' idlers
under his command.
nt B,truavAst, in explanation, observed that he had
atitQled the military talents of Sir Charles Napier, who
Sir, have hadpeace if he had not have preferred war.
nf1,0,.,_,". CAMPBELL (a Director) condemned the policy
let rd Auckland, but his excuse might be the example
+lite predecessor • and he (Sir Robert) considered
...eousseahr;e! Napier felt' himself perfectly justified in the
; hadpursued.
SirPelivespithlTAß BRYANT contended that this was not a
the ale -0' question. He strongly eulogised the chatacter
epoys.
ettity ; ''QLT MACKENZIE considered there was no diffi-
tek. 41.,,,separating the military from the political ques •
'Oioje:ae thought that the civil acts of Sir Charles
beesse,eoUld not be approved of, as they had led to the
tire t4l of 'military operations. He, therefore, would
sot foe Gallant General thanks for his military, but
ftt„,,148 Civil acts. The Duke of Wellington had
add 41''' a political blunder at Vienna, but no one
weld sPute his glorious military career. No army
alier accept thanks if a leader such as Sir Charles
Gen -se excluded.—(Hear.)
• ..th
ineral GALLOWAY (a Director) spoke in favour of
s;.‘11!, though he did not approve of the conduct
• gush a Napier. If ever they had a great military man,
„ The nanc, Was Sir Charles Napier.—(Cheers )
at'stres-oitlajlsAst then directed the clerk to read the
.
th:`"on of the day.
• 11. a h.:question being put, the resolution was carried
4gain s Thge majority. Only four hands were held up
• . t
• 'ccl una, The second and third resolutions were car-
rniously.
••for f trllivati gave notice of motion for the next
14. t the Production of the minutes of. the proceed.
• Court of Directors. on this subject, &c.
`'"Alrt then, adiournm„ • ,
Cot

s I
,_, tut,ax, ..
tbe—' 8 rtzw MmezimylLtGAznis ron _
. % ut ' of Mr.. Col. ,
tirte,mastthat. need be said of this number
' - -- • . MARCH.
4.4 it fe°Pular periodical is, that;-both for variety
~an,,di_i_att..
',f.1:11 eve surpaSses the two preceding .Numbers, of Leide"W,b..,
ilh Ye,ar. The -opening paper is a Legend of Lingu .
litstati:l4.,bY," entitled'‘‘The Lord of Thou.lollse,7 spiritedly., nil
' tilt 11:1,`•e''' bY Leeeh; in which 'magic'
e oileeta of the writer's facetious powers: Tbi,s iee
and teetaal.ismnit(it
is
Of th ‘..e best li_igoldsby has yet given us. The third_ part-
tary-efeltr.ious " Talleyrand Papers" divulges flte:senrpet._m_s-
keut ofil intrigues Which led to the capture_ ailqu !In
' .., • ct._ Lnd„ 1 SPanish Princes at Yalengay. The Marchioness
‘44 the leino"errY describes in a very lively manner her visits
atatits_ sque of St. Sophia and the Seraglio, • 41. stery7,,ta the Sultan. Mrs. Trollope concludes her spirited
and her pre
At,- .- " The Butt " the denouement of which will greatly
• Itteriat her reade '
ehttit: are
al% COrira.CillTd ehde i"n
Letters
number,fr om
aHnodnggi•Kveonagvaenryd
. • ke:,,t, picture of the condition of the population of
', Ahe Old Forest. Ranger" contributes some stirring
es it, morn his Indian diary ; and Mr. Laman Blanchard"
"e of his pit
t papers called "Enquire Within. n'ad ke4otbsse articles, there is a charming poem of Miss Cook's,
dal 7, One from the of Miss Agnes Strickland ; a capi-
, enette entitled 14" The Genoese Mask,"
—.tomtio..
as article embod ' "Hints to Peace Socie-
The ymg sundry and a highly
.'. etkeat paller, however, which is like to attract the
attention 6 that on the Censorship of the English
141111.41144the44111.1,._1514fie5t hit the prohibition by. the Lord Cham-
-""storical copyof "Richelieu in Love."

GRAND WEEKLY
ANTI-CORN-LAW LEAGUE

MEETING

AT COVENT-GARDEN THEATRE.

The usual weekly, meeting of the National Anti-
Corn-law League, was held last evening, at Covent-
garden Theatre, and notwithstanding the unfavour-
able state of the weather, the theatre was crowded in.
every part in five minutes after the door was opened.
At seven o'clock, George Wilson, Esq., chairman
of the League, took the chair. He was accompanied
by Richard Cobden, Esq., M.P. ; John Bright, Esq.,
M.P..; James Patteson, Esq., M.P. ; Hon. Charles
Pelham Villiers, M.P. ; Thomas Milner Gibson, Esq.,
M.P.; W. J. Fox, Esq. ; Henry Ashworth, Esq., of
the aks, near Bolton, and other distinguished mem-
bers of the League, who were all loudly cheered as.
they made their appearance. Among those present
we observed in addition to the above-mentioned
gentlemen :—Sir Valentine Blake Bart., M.P. ;
Roger Cunliffe, Esq. ; R. R. R. Moore, Esq. ; W.
A. Wilkinson, Esq. ; Arthur Pattison, Esq. ; Pat-
tison, Esq. ; Samuel Lucas, Esq. ; . Nelson Hancock,
Esq.; William Evans, Esq., Manchester ; J. Goswell,
Esq. ; George Borrett, Esq.,- Southampton ; Chris.
J. Thomas, Esq., Bristol ; Phillips, Esq. ; Effing-
ham Wilson, Esq. ; John M`Leod, Esq. ; Captain.
Ridout; George Crawford Heath, Esq.; George.
Scrivens, Esq., Hastings ; Charles Scott, Esq. ; J.
Cox, Esq. ; G. C. Dyke, Esq.; W. A. Smith, Esq. ;
W. A. Thomson, Esq. ; C. Layard, Esq. ; H. S.
Shaw, Esq. ; George Smith, Esq.; R. L. Tweedale,
Esq. ; John Hunter, Esq. ; George Ridout, Esq. ;
Sir William Baynes, Bart. ; John Eckless, Esq.,
Southampton ; J. B. Scott, Esq., Manchester ; Francis
Scheer, Esq.; Andrew Hall, Esq., Manchester ; R.
Andrews, Esq., Southampton ; James Wilson, Esq. ;
W. Ibbotson, Esq., Sheffield • 11. E. Adair, Esq. ;
W. Thornborrow, Esq. ; W. M. Burnie, Esq. ; Adam.
Smith, Esq. ; Wynn, Esq., Wolverhampton.
The CEIAIRMAN called upon the Secretary to read
the minutes of the last meeting.
The SECRETARY then proceeded to read the mi-.
nutes. . At the mention of the name of Daniel O'Con-
nell,, Esq., M.P., for the county of Cork, as one of
those who had addressed the meeting last week, the
meeting cheered in the most enthusiastic manner for
several minutes. The ladies in the boxes waved their
handkerchiefs, and many a popular leader would have
been proud of the applause which the bare mention
of the name of Daniel O'Connell drew forth. 'We
believe that never before has the mere reading of the
minutes of any preceding meeting elicited anything
like such an expression of popular feeling. The pre-
sent is a perfectly unique instance of such . an oc-

currence.
On the motion of Mr. VILLIERS, seconded by Mr.
COBDEN, the- minutes of the preceding meeting were
confirmed. _ _

-- ; --
CHAIRMAN then came forward and said—
Ladies and gentlemen, a distinguished member of
the Administration has been kind enough to inform
the public that Leaguers meet in theatres—(Cheers)
—and certainly this meeting, although not so crowded
as was the meeting of last week—(Cheers)—furnishes
a confirmation of the accuracy of the information
which the Right Hon. the Secretary of State for the
Home Department, was pleased to give to the Mem-
bers of the House of Commons.—(Cheers.) We are
met together here, in perhaps greater numbers than
the entire of the monopolists' meetings put toge-
ther, which have been held during the last week
—(Cheers)--and although, perhaps, it may be no
great compliment to say we are not much behind
them in intelligence, yet I am convinced that when
the objects which they have in view are compared
with those which we seek to attain, we shall stand
much before them in the estimation of the generous-
hearted and intellectual portion of our fellow-coun-
trymen.—(Loud cheers.) We have heard of many
of these meetings, and I am willing to admit that so
far they are indications of renewed activity and
vigour on the part of the more excitable portion of
that political party which upholdsthe present system,
so far they are important. But, in point of
numbers, with one or two exceptions, they are
utterly beneath notice, and, considered as an expres-
sion of the opinions of the tenant-farmers, they are
altogether foolish.—(Cheers.) Why ? Because in
the earlier meetings, in which the tenant-farmers
were put forward, they did not by their speeches or
by their acts support the objects of those meetings,
and in the later meetings the lords and squires have
undertaken to perform those duties in the name of
the tenant-farmers, and have taken upon themselves
the entire management of these meetings. These
meetings have, been very small ; frequently they
have not been held in public, and the tenant-farmers
have not in general attended them.—(Loud cheers.)
But we make no complaint of these close meetings ;
we do not object to our fellow countrymen meeting
in any manner which they may think proper, to pro-
mote a specific object, and to pass regulations in their
own way. But, admitting this right to its fullest
extent, still those meetings cannot for one moment
be compared with the meetings which Mr. Cobden
held in the agricultural districts during the last Sum-
mer.—(Loud cheers.) Twenty-eight of those meet-
ings were held in the agricultural districts, aid at
twenty-seven of them, which were open mee4ngs,
attended by tenant farmers, and held in the agricul-
tural districts, resolutions were passed in favour;of a
total and immediate abolition of the corn-lasys.—
(Loud cheers.) On the other hand, at the only ppen
meeting which the monopolists have ventured to; call,
which was convened in Somersetshire by the Nigh
Sheriff, and over which the High Sheriff presided,
resolutions were proposed, seconded, and passed, in
favour of a total and immediate abolition of the dorn-
laws, and a petition to Parliament, founded on these
resolutions, was agreed to.—(Loud cheers.) I have,
therefore, a right to say that those meetings furnish
no evidence to show that the tenant-farmers are
opposed to the National Anti-Corn-law League.—
(Cheers.) I had last week an opportunity of nogcing
the observations of a certain Noble Lord respecting
the proceedings of the National Anti-Corn-law
League. This week a Noble Earl who resido in
Yorkshire has chosen to favour us with a nbtice.

There was a meeting in York held last week, the
Earl of Harewood in the chair. The Noble Earl is
reported to have said that the meeting might learn
what were the objects of the Anti-Corn-law League
in the agitation which they were carrying on, by
considering what had happened to a farmer in ;Lin-
colnshire. That farmer had attended a meeting in
Lincolnshire, and had stood up and opposed the Anti-
Corn-law League, and during the course of that! very
night his stacks and his ricks had been burnt down.
No man could surely doubt after that what were the
objects and intentions of the National Anti-Corn-law
League !—(" Oh, oh," and cries of " Shame ! shame !")
Does the Noble Lord mean to say that the meinbers
of the League set fire to this man's ricks ?—(Cheers.)
He has furnished us with no information on the sub-
ject—(Cheers)—he has not told us where this iheet-
ing was held.—(Cheers.) He has not told who was
the party to whom these stacks belonged. The Noble
Lord has not descended to particulars lie was
willing to establish an imputation against the League
—he did not consider it necessary to enter into any
particulars, for he knew his audience well, and that
they would be perfectly ready to accept any insinua-
tion which he might think proper to make against the
Anti-Corn-law League.—(Cheers.) But I would
have that Noble Earl to know that we, the members
of the League, have as great a regard for the sacred
rights of property, and as much abhorrence of the
diabolical acts of the incendiary as any Lord, Earl, or
other member of the aristocracy.—(Loud cheers.)
The Noble Earl lives in Yorkshire, and he cannot
cast his eyes in any direction without seeing numer-
ous towns and villages and hamlets all indebted to
manufacturing capital for their prosperity.—(Cheers.)
He cannot look around .him without knowing that
among the inhabitants of all those towns, villages, and
hamlets, there are persons of every station in society,
high and low, who aremembers of the National Anti-
Corn. law League.—(Cheers.) Does he dare to ac-
cuse those persons of having set this man's ricks and
stacks on fire ?—(Loud cheers.) He is seated in the
House of Lords on the bench opposite to that oa which
sit the Earl.of Ducie, the Marquis of Westminster,
the Earl of RadnOr, awl Lord Kinnaird—will he
venture to accuse them., of encouraging and as-
sisting any person to set on fire those stacks or ricks?
or will he dare to accuse this meeting of it ?—(Loud
cheers.) I hope that he will be more careful for the
future of the statements which he makes, and that
when he does make a charge, he will make it fairly,
and give particulars.— (Cheers.) Since we la'st met
here meetings have been held in various parts of
Yorkshire—at Richmond, at Knaresborough, at
Northallerton, at Thirsk, at which Mr. Plint, Col.
Thompson,. and Mr. Prentis, of Manchester, attended
as a deputation from the League. At Coble, in Lan-
cashire, a' meeting was likewise held, during the last
Week, which was attended by the Rev. Mr. Massey,
qolanchester, and at which 2001. was collected for
the League, fund.—(Cheers.) At Gloucester, on,
Saturday, last, there was an open county meeting, the
Earl of Ducie being in the chair.—(Loud cheers.)
It was attended by a greater number of tenant-
farmers. than I believe it would be possible for the
monopolist party to get together at any
which they may think proper to hold in the
meeting
same
county.—(Loud cheers.) , It was addressed by Mr.
Coliden—(Cheers)—Colonel. Thompson—(Cheers)—
' and Mr. Moore.—(Cheers,) A resolution was pro-
posed by Mr. Holland, a large, agriculturist, a farmer,
and an extensive occupier of land, and seconded by
j another tenant-farmer, approving of the proceedings of
the National Anti-Corn-law League.—(Loud cheers.)
We shall be addressed this evening by Mr. Ashworth,
of Turton, near Bolton—(Cheers)—by Mr. Milner
Gibson, the. Member for Manchester-(Cheers.) Mr.
T Gisborne—(Loud cheers)—Mr. Gisborne, I am sorry
I to say, is unfortunately detainedat-htuke,bpindispo=

sition, and will not be able to address you this even-
ing ; but our excellent friend, Mr. Bright—(Loud
cheers)—is here, and will address you in his place.—
(Loud cheers.) The Chairman concluded by calling
upon Mr. Ashworth, of Turton, near Bolton, to ad-
dress the meeting. _ _

Mr. HENRY KSHIVORTII then came forward to the
platform. lle said it was no common sight to witness
manufacturers from the North leaving their dwellings
and their occupations to appear before an audience
like the present. The manufacturer had usually other
employments to attend to, but he would appeal to his
fellow-countrymen when he felt himself wronged. The
manufacturers were unused to agitation ; they belonged
to a class who studied practical science and the mechani-
cal arts and their machinery, and they were therefore
busily engaged at home if pernicious legislation, al-
lowed them to be so. In appealing to them in the
character of a manufacturer, he felt a confidence
which arose from the faCt, that the body to which he
belonged sought to possess nothing but their own.
Manufactures were engaged in making hard bargains,
and so were all prudent persons, themselves (the
meeting) among the rest.—(Hear.) But it could
not be laid to their charge that they had got a com-
mercial house in Parliament-street where they could
surround the community with their toils, and enable
themselves to make both sides of the bargain.—
(Hear, hear.) Manufacturers enjoyed no protection.
They sought none, and they disclaimed the protec-
tive system• altogether; all they asked, was to have
all her Majesty's subjects put upon an equal footing.
That was not an unreasonable demand. But the
landlords said they must have protection—that they
were entitled to a certain amount of protection for
certain specific purposes. He would not now remind
them of what those purposes were, but refer them for
the information to Lord Mountcashel and Sir
Edward Knatchbull. Those gentlemen could tell all
about it. They said they must have pro-
tection to enable them to compete with
foreigners. He was not yet aware in what respect
Englishmen were inferior to foreigners.—(Hear,
hear.) He was persuaded that the British farmer and
farm-labourer would do as much work, and were as
capable of competing with foreigners, as any class ;
and none, he was persuaded, could better compete
with them in agricultural labour, if the landlords
would allow him to buy his food rather cheaper. The
manufacturers were exposed to foreign competition—
and why not the landlords? Manufacturers enjoyed
no privileges—they required none. They possessed
no advantages of machinery, which were not common
to all the world. They obtained from other countries
inventions and improvements in machinery, which
they embodied in that machinery which they manu-
factured themselves, and then allowed those produc-
tions of their own skill to be taken out of this country
and sold in any country in the world, at as cheap a
rate as they had got them themselves.—(Hear, hear.)
The law which prohibited the export of machinery
had been repealed a year or two ago, and although
they were suffering severely in their business, and
although many were of opinion that the export of
their machinery, superior as it was of its kind,
would be hazardous to them, nevertheless, with a spirit
of fair dealing the manufacturers never demurred to
the Act permitting the export, but allowed it to pass
without hesitation or disturbance. Having, therefore,
given up, in favour of foreigners, all protection, if
ever they had any, the manufacturers claimed to be
freed from restriction of every kind. They took it
that since they were exposed to foreign competition,
it was unjust that any other class—especially the
wealthy landlord class—should enjoy advantages not
common to all. With respect to manufacturers and
other classes of the community, they were told that
the home market was an important market for their
productions. He was prepared to speak to the value
of the home market, as regarded his own trade, which
was the cotton trade. That was chiefly an export
trade, there being only one out of every seven bales
consumed wrought for home consumption ; and thus,
all the employment with the cotton trade, derived from
every class of British subjects, amounted to only one •
seventh of the whole, or about one day's work out of
the week. That applied to the consumption of classes ;
and, therefore, when one came to analyse what was
obtained from the aristocratic classes, who put forth
the value of the home market in such vaunting terms,
it was found to amount to only some fractional parts
of one day's work in a week ; and for that they
were thankful as far as it went. As to the home
consumption, the city of London alone consumed more
cotton manufactures than all Ireland, and Manchester
more than the entire county of Buckingham.—
(llear, hear.) With respect to the export trade,
from what he had already mentioned, they would see
that they depended upon foreigners for six-sevenths
of all the work they did, and those six-sevenths of
their productions being sold in the open markets of
the world, they were unable to enjoy any description
of protection. Let them now look to the landlord,
and the manufacture which pertained to his occupa-
tion—the manufacture of food. There was no export
trade in that article. He had the best market
in the world at his own doors, and protection,
too, into the bargain. There was a time
when the landlords of this country exported their
own produce, but that day was gone by, and the po-
pulation of iis country now consumed all the food
foreign r
otherwisee i ofgH neanc medium
they could raise, and required much more if they
could get it. Al much of this food was consumed
by the large portion of the community engaged in
manufacturing goods for export, it—that was, corn,
wheat, and other agricultural produce—became the
raw material of their manufacturing labour, and thus
the goods exported consisted virtually of corn,
wheat, &c., as much as of manufactured cotton. The
nnentooPpossessed
money,
as nsoi
ees
landlords, who were merchants in their way, were by
that
convert
mortuefbtoahlrneesti
hr
aebfnioerdo
dc
productso macountriesint eemewould
withoutsuaol
necessary
y btex-
changebe
et
seen that the manufacturers of this country, manu-
facturing as they did under the corn-laws, were
compelled, in the first instance, to pay an artifi-
cially high price for the food they and their
labourers consumed, and afterwards, in the course of
his export trade, to re-sell it in foreign- markets,
where, if sold in the shape of food, it would not fetch
more than half the price it brought in its altered form.
Thus they found that the manufacturers became the
implements of the landlords to dispose of their goods
and chattels at twice as much as they were worth,
and at a loss of one half in the process. On the sub-
ject of the export trade, they would have no difficulty
in seeing that it was a general axiom in relation to it
that importers were customers. The manufacturers
who dealt with foreign countries took, as the crite-
rion of the prosperity of this country, not the
amount of exports, but of imports.,. He repeated that
imports were to be considered in the light of cus-
tomers. A vessel who approached our shores, no
matter from what country she came, was. the
impersonation of the foreign merchant with money
in his pockets, for the vessel's cargo was easily con-
verted into money, and that money was put at the
disposal of the merchant's agent to purchase goods ;
and thus, in a new shape, it was re-embarked and
sent away again. Therefore, the more of those ves-
sels that came to our shores, the greater the number
of customers for our manufactures. Goods imported
into this country did not go at once from the ship to
the merchant's warehouse, but were detained at the
Custom-house to pay certain revenue duties. That
was only right and proper; but a distinction should
be made between duties levied for the purposes of
revenue and duties imposed for protection. Imports
ought to be as free as the winds in an enlightened
country. If they were to go to a distant cpuntry-
and see .an armed body of men, with muskets in one
hand, and telescopes in the other, for the purpose of
acting as a preventive service to restrict the import
of foreign goods, would they not say that such a
State was acting in a most suicidal manner ?
The laws of which he had spoken admitted of the
introduction of luxuries from foreign countries, of
wines, of silks, and of lace, which were chiefly con-
sumed by the rich ; and whilst the importation of
those articles which were required chiefly by the
labouring classes was prohibited by the Legislature,
they protested against the protective laws as unjust
to the rest of the community.—(Cheers.) Landlords
' told them that this was a manufacturer's question.
They found that manufacturers were very actively
engaged in efforts to get rid of restrictive enact-
ments, and therefore they attempted to make out that
it was the manufacturers alone who were interested
in the result. He denied that it was exclusively a
manufacturer's question; it was the labourer's question;
the tradesman s question, everybody's question.
There was a time when the manufacturers viewed it
as their own question. The law bore hard upon
them, and they sought to obtain relief. But the
more they searched into the question, the stronger
was their conviction that those who were engaged in
other employments were suffering equally with them-
selves ; in some instances they believed that even
greater injuries had been inflicted. It was not a
question affecting any one part of society alone, but
a general question, affecting the whole community.—
(Hear, hear.) When the manufacturer found that
his, business was crippled, and that his work-people
were starved, it became his duty to complain,
as it would become any one to do when
he saw that he .was the subject of hard
dealing.—(Hear, hear.) The landlords, not con-
tent with raising one ivy, had started that of over-
production. Showing a great number of figures,
they exclaimed, " Why, those manufacturers would
clothe the whole world !"—(Laughter.) It would be
quite as well if they would give them the opportunity
of clothing the whole world.—(Hear, hear.) If, by
.so doing, they brought trouble upon them, it would
be time enough to complain when the trouble: came.
—(Hear, hear.) It would.. be as well, perhaps, to
examine this question a little more closely. Suppose
it to be possible for them to clothe the whole world.
Still they could not make everlasting calicoes.—
(Laughter.) Calicoes would sometimes wear out, and
-they mist then -be renewed.—(Hear.) Hence-there