The Sun.
London, England, 1845-12-05 00:00:00

MARYLEBONE.

Yesterday, pursaant to notice, a special meeting of the
vestry of the parish of St. Marylebone took place for the pur-
pose of considering the apprehended famine, and the pro-
priety of memorialising her Majesty the Queen to use her
prerogative in convenieg Parliament and in throwing open
the ports. Amongst the members of the vestry present were,
the Right lion. Lord Montford, the Right Hon. Lord Straf-
ford, Mr. Joseph Hume, M.P., Mr. W. Williams, M.P., Sir
John M'Taggart, Bart., M.P., General Sir De Lacy Evans,
John 13agshaw, Esq., Martin Thackerr, Esq., Hugh Biers,
Esq., John Williams, Esq., George Daniell, Esq., Alfred
Daniell, Esq , John Gomm, Esq., &c. &c.
George Daniell, Esq. (churchwarden), was called to the
chair. _ _ .

Letters were road from Sir C. Napier and Sir B. Hall, the
Members fur the borough, expressing their regret that
;Levy could not be in town in time to attend the meeting.

the CitAtumAx h.ving briefly opened the proceedings

John 11,wsnaw, Esq.,proposed the first resolution,--Z
" That the extensive failure of the crops imperatively de-
mands that the most decisive and energetic measures should
,e immediately taken to ensure a sufficient supply of food,
ind to guard the country from the dreadful evils which have
ever followed in the train of scarcity„" and which, in the pre-
sent circumstances of the nation, would fall upon it with
more than ordinary force."

Mr. Husie, M P., said he felt great pleasure in seconding
the resolution. He thought the time was come when the
people of this country should rise as one man and demand
that the restrictions upon food should be at once and for ever
abolished.—(Cheers.) When they looked to what would in
all probability shortly be the state of the poor in Ireland,
when they looked to the state of our colonies, and our own
manufacturing towns, he could not say but he thought every
one must be apprehensive of the most serious results.--(Hear,
hear.) In the event of a famine occurring, either by means
of the failure of the potato crop, or other articles of con-
sumption, could it longer he tolerated that, merely to keep
up the price of corn and put money in their own pockets, the
landed aristocracy should drag fifteen millions annually
out of the pockets of the labouring and industrious classes ?
—(Hear, and cries of " No, no.") He (Mr. Hume) was de-
lighted to see the progress which had been made in public
opinion with respect to the necessity of opening the
ports. He was convinced, if that were effected, we should
not only have free trade in corn, but free trade in every-
thing else.—(Hear, hear.) lie was of opinion that every
class of persons, and even the landed proprietors themselves,
suffered by monopoly, whilst it had a tendency to demoralise,
and to create crime as well as distress, amongst the poorer
dames of the people.—(Hear, hear.) He was not aware if
there was any foundation for the gratifying announcement
which appeared in some of the papers of that day, that cer-
tain members of the Cabinett had declared in favour of free
trade. He could only say, if such were true, lie believed they
would recerve the almost unanimous support of the nation.—
(Cheers.) Sir Robert Peel was bound by his oath of office
to do his duty to his Sovereign and his country, and having
declared that the principle of opening the ports was founded
in justice as well as common sense, if he did not, Now the
opportunity offered, use his influence to do so, a strong re-
monstrance from the people might have its due effect.—
(Hear, hear.) He (Mr. Hume) looked towards Ireland with
the greatest apprehension. He had received that morning
a document from Ireland, showing the result of an official
inquiry going on there, with the Duke of Leinster at its
head. With reference to the potato crop, every clergyman
in every town in Ireland had been communicated with, and
the number of persona who returned their potato crop as
having failed to the extent of one-third was 158 ; more than
one-third. 435; more than one-half, 134; and three-fourths
of the crop, 40. Now, if this were the case, it was
in his (Mr. Hume'e) opinion calculated to excite serious
apprehensions. In Norfulk, on land of his own, the failure
of the drop was to the extent of seven-eighths, and sup-
posing that failure to be general, it was sufficient to excite
the most serious apprehensions, not only with regard to the
state of oar fellow-;subjects in Ireland, but at home also.—
ifHear, hear.) It was quite clear that the people of
7 gland could not think of sbuttieg up their pockets and
their Irish brethren to starve.—(Hear, hear.) He (Mr.
Hume) perfectly coincided in the resolution, and hoped they
would not separate without either coming to a strong reso-
Iptlon 4rebtOnstrance with the Minister, or go so far as to
Mime the subject upon the attention of her Majesty in an
address to to the Crown.—(Hear, hear.)

Mr. M.P., had great pleasure in giving his
eupport to this resolution, and he thought, when it was
considered that Maffylebone had a population equal to one-
half of the counties of the kingdom, and was superior in
wealth to many others, that the opinion of the vestry, as the
representatives of that wealth and population, would not be
diaregarded.—(Hear.) The country were deeply indebted
to his friend Mr. Ilume, for it was the returns obtained by-
that gentleman in 1840 which threw the monopolists on their
backs, and seihich would eventually secure the entire obeli-
';an of the corn-laws. The Governments of Holland and
laelgium ne sooner saw the prospect of a scarcity of food
titan they threw open the ports : and even the despot of Rus-
,,a had shown in this respect more sympathy for his people
than had been manifested by the landed aristocracy of Eng-
and.—( Hear, hear.)
T4o retie. lution was carried unanimously, amidst great
applaree.
Mr. JOSEPH moved the second resolution—
" That a failure of the crops, at all times most disastrous,
is enormously aggravated by the laws which, under the false
pretence of protecting the home grower, and encouraging
-
agriculture, prohibit the free importation of foreign corn, and
thereby render the first necessary of life scarce and dear to
rapidlya increasing and industrious population."
r. Jour; Wirmms seconded the resolution.
This resolution having been carried, without a dissentient,
Mr. SoDEN proposed the next resolution—
" That it is the bounden duty of her Majesty's responsible
advise 7 to direct the ports to be immediately opened for the
admission of articles of food from foreign ports, free of duty,
and to advise her Majesty to summon Parliament at the earliest
possible
opportunity, in order, at once and for ever, to put an
end to a system which has been proved to be the blight of
commerce, the bane of agriculture, the source of bitter dis-
rension amone•st clas*es, and the cause of penury, fever,
mortality, ancrerime among the people:"
Mr. GLAssix, in seconding the motion, congratulated the
meeting upon the unanimity which prevailed in it, notwith-
standing there were gentlemen of all shades of political
opinion present.
Mr. H. C. WILSON moved an address to the Queen founded
on the resolutions.
Lord MONTFORT, amidst loud cheers, seconded the pro-
position.
The motion having been carried, General Evans, and one
or two other gentlemen, addressed the meeting, and after
thanks to the chairman, it separated.
The following is a copy of the address alluded to :
"To THE QUEEN'S MOST EXCELLENT eMESTY.
" The humble Address and Petition ofthe Representative
Vestry and Ratepayers of the parish of St. betarylebone,
in the county of Middlesex.
" Me I gracioua Majty.
~Nyf, your Majesty's loyal ea
nd devoted subjects, the ves-
*ram and holseholders of the pariah of St. Alarylelmier