The Sun.
London, England, 1844-01-02 00:00:00

CORN AND CURRENCY LAWS.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE MORNING POST.
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
remeeis from me upon the all-important suilieet of a
generst 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 as hatever in recommending
a total repeal of the corn-laws, v. ith 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 be, 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 eases when a great
scarcity raises the price very far above the general aver-
age. The only reason why I have narru d 7s. 6,1. 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 is. 6d. or Bs., 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 nut 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 much as they are at present ;" but
you forget that I do not alone propose the abolition of
the two laws, I also propose to alter the nominal price of
silver from ss. 2d, to is. 6d. 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. It; how-
ever, as is probable, the corn-laws alone are repealed,
the money interest will take possession of the land, and
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 18(4 ; the corn-
laws of that time were quite useless, for the price of
corn was always above the proteetinr,. 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 riot the sama 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 year' extensive experience
may be interesting to your ,readers, I remain, yours
respectfully', G. F. MUNTZ.
Ley Hall, near Birmingham, Dec.

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
this morning 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 INCENDlARlsm.—lnforination was received
last night, at Bow-street; that on the rusk of the 26th
ult., or early on the following morning, a large u heat
hovel, a rick of beans, and one of barley, six tons of straw,
seven loads of stubble, a large ladder, a quantity of elm
boards, and about thirty yards of rick staddics, the pro;
perty of Mr. Daniel Simons, of Middlemoor, in the bo
rough of Daventry, were maliciously fired, and totally
destroyed. A rward of ten guineas has been offered
for the apprehension of the incendiaries, and a similar
reward by Mr. Roche. On the night, of the 22d ult.,
some demoniacal persons wilfully vet fire to the farin
buildings and ricks of Air. James of High
Boothing, Essex, whereby the same were totally de-
stroyed. A reward of 150/. 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, oho vs ill give
such information as may lead to conviction.
FREEMASONRY IN WORCESTER.—(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.
The worshipful master, Brother Jost ph Bennett, pre-
sided, assisted by Brother Richard Vartivn a W, (in
the absence of Brother Knight, Crum a si were 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 magnitif.!ent dessert or
pines,' grapes, and other suitable twoompaniments, with
excellent wines, succeeded, and the evening was passed
with true UNSODIC