The Sun.
London, England, 1845-12-06 00:00:00

MEETING AT PRESTON.

(Abridged from the Preston Guardian of Thursday.)
On Thursday a meeting, in compliance with a requi-
sition bearing about 700 signatures, was held in the
Town-hall, Preston, for the purpose of memorialising
Government for the immediate admission of foreign grain
duty free.
On taking his seat, the CHAIRMAN (Mr. Alderman
Ilaydock, in the absence of the Mayor), said—l regret
exceedingly the absence of the Mayor on this occa3ion,
for I know that he does commiserate the present state
and prospects of the:country. It is, lam sure, ill-health
alone, that has kept him away. Since you have, in
his absence, called me to the chair, I will endeavour
to do my duty as well as I can, and I shall be glad
to have the support of the meeting. (Cheers.)
It is now, I believe, somewhere about five years ago that
the question of free trade was first fairly brought before
the inhabitants of this borough. I was applied to on
that occasion to preside ; I stated that I was rather sur-
prised that I should be applied to, because I was con-
sidered to be favourable to a more moderate measure
than one which went from one extreme to another, and

that, therefore, I was not disposed to preside. But when
I was told that the object of the meeting was to give the
two distinguished individuals who came to visit us an
opportunity of stating the case against the corn-laws, I
at once consented, and for the best of all reasons, that it
is only fair that both sides of the question should be
stated ; besides, it was also mentioned that on that occa-
sion no resolutions were to be moved. Those gentlemen
did state the case fully and fairly. The other side of
the question have had their meetings also, and stated
their case ; and, after four or five years' deliberation,
what is the result ? Why, that we have it now
from some of the most distinguished Conservatives
that " the corn-laws are doomed"—(Loud cheers)—
and that it is only a question of time. I apprehend that
it is the question of time that has brought us here to-
day, because it is represented that we have a great failure
in the harvest, and that there is a prospect of a defi-
ciency of supply for the country before next harvest. If,
then, it is a question of time, it is quite time now to take
it into consideration.—(Cheers.) It is on that account
_

that I affixed my name to the requisition to the Mayor
to call this meeting, to take into consideration the pro-
priety of opening the ports fur the free admission of
grain. I shall be glad now to hear, from any gentlemen
who have anything to move on the subject, their reasons
why the present meeting ought not to take some steps in
the matter.—(Cheers.)
The Rev. Mr. SLATE said—Mr. Chairman, the resolu-

tion which I have to move is, "That this meeting fed
convinced that the alarm in Ireland, owing to the potato
disease, the stagnation of trade now felt in this district,
and the fear of famine generally entertained, have all
been produced or greatly augmented by our present
corn-laws ; that these laws have prevented large quanti-
ties of grain being stored up in this country, have in-
duced other countries to manufacture instead of extend-

ing the cultivation of the soils, and following upon a fail-
ing harvest, are sure to aggravate the sufferings of the
people by making food scarce and dear." Perhaps it
may be thought by some that, as a minister of re-
ligion, I ought not to be present on such an occasion
as this. I must say that I think otherwise, and lam not
ashamed of the reasons. I dont know why I ought not
to be allowed to take a part in some subjects that
may be considered party-political—for it will be a
happy time when our statesmen are traly religious per-
sons ; nor why I should be deprived of my privilege as
a citizen, of taking part in the common affairs of this
country ; and as I think the corn-laws are injurious to
our national welfare, I think it right to come forward
and show that I disapprove of them. I look, however,
on this question as connected not merely with politics,
but with the cause of humanity, morals, and religion.
Now, I have witnessed the operation of the corn-laws
since I came here, and I can say that it has been the
source of much misery. Besides, my Bible is opposed
to the corn-laws. I read in it, " He that withholdeth

corn the people shall curse him ; but blessing shall be
upon the head of him that selleth it."—Prov. xi. 26.
—(Loud cheering.) This shows the Bible is opposed to
the corn monopoly, and I am acting consistently, there-

fore, as a minister of the Bible. —We have now one
statesman after another coming to give in his adhesion
to the object we have in view.—(Loud cheers.) lam no
prophet, nor the son of a prophet ; but I may venture
to predict that if God spare our lives to this time next
year we shall see oiir object attained—(Cheers)—and as
I have taken a part in some of the first skirmishiugs, I
am willing to take a part now that the victory is at
hand.—(Applause.) Mr. Slate concluded by moving
the resolution.
_ _

Mr. J. Ilawmus, after giving an alarming account o
the extent of the potato disease in this district, said—
It will be rather strange if, after all the agitation and
opposition we have had for the last seven years, this
potato rot should be the means of softening such a per-
son as the old " Iron Duke," or Lord Stanley and others.
I should not be surprised if it does not upset the whole
of the Cabinet.—(Loud cheering.) The present state
of things is intolerable ; and I hope every man in this
town, and in the country in general, will come forward
and do his utmost to do away with that odious tax that
has so long oppressed this country. I beg to second the
motion.—(Great applause.)
The CHAIRMAN then put the motion, which was car-
ried unanimously.
Mr. LivEsEic rose to propose the next resolution, and
said, no greater calamity can possibly come to the coun-
try than a scarcity of food ; the very measures of
Government should tend to make food plentiful and
cheap. In fact, food is the strength of a country. Look
at all your buildings—the immense extensions of your
towns--the cuttings of your railways and canals—the
vast increase of your manufacturers and mills, and the
improvement of your soil—whence proceeds all this ?
From the labour of men sustained by food. Food is the
physical strength of the country ; and to lessen the
supply of food, or to make it dear, therefore, is to lessen
the physical power of the pe )ple, to deprive them of the
ability of adding to the wealth, the strength, and the
impJrtance of the kingdom. Of all things that ought to
be left out of the list of articles for taxation, food is the
one. There should be no tax on human sustenance. If
we were left free, we should always have plenty ; al-
though there would be periods of change and compara•
Live scarcity, yet if all countries were tree to exchange
with one another, there would be plenty, becaue.
it never happens that a scarcity is universal
The corn-law agitation has made it as clear as
that two and two make four, that in proportion as
people have more money to expend on food, they will
have more also to lay out on manufactured goods and
other articles the produce of this country. Now, we
will not speculate on the extent of the potato disease ;
we just take the matter as it stands by the returns made
to us weekly. I have not met with any who dispute
that there is a considerable loss, yet some contend that
it is not so extensive as is represented. Perhaps it is
not so ; but if you refer to the price of potatoes you
ought to bear in remembrance two things—First, the
farmers are selling off all their potatoes in order to make
what they can out of them, lest they should ultimately
lose the whole, and that ovnstocks the market ;—and,
secondly, you must bear another fact in mind—that
whilst it was usual for housekeepers possessing the re-
quisite means to lay in a winter stock of potatoes,
scarcely any one can be found now that has laid in any
stock at all. What will be the consequence ? When
farmers bring in their few remaining potatoes to the
market in spring, and those householders and others
proceed to buy, the prices will rise. If there be one
thing which should concern us more than another, it is
the sustenance of the poor.—(Hear, hear.) In a time of
scarcity the rich can afford to purchase their usual sup-
plies ; the middle classes can curtail their luxuries, and
so procure plenty ; so that when a positive scarcity oc-
curs, nearly the whole weight of it falls upon the poor.
And it may not perhaps be out of place here to remark
that if you were to raise the largest subscription ever
known in England it would not mend the evil—it would
not create a single additional potato or additional quar-
ter of wheat—it would, in fact, create a greater compe-
tition, and so raise the price.—(Hear, hear.) It is the
bringing in of food, and not the subscribing of money,
that will remedy the evil. It has been said that provi-
sions are from 30 to 35 per cent. higher than they were
two years ago. You will perceive that that makes a
very material difference in the expenditure of the great
mass of consumers.—(Cries of " Hear, hear.") How is
it possible that the manufacturers and other traders of
this country can be supported if you give so much more
money to the Duke of Buckingham, the Duke of Rich-
mond, and the other landowners of the country. It is
not possible that you can give it to your own tradesmen
when you are giving it to them—and if there were no
other reason, this alone would account for the depression
now coming over our trade. Justcontrast, for instance, the
present state of things with the advantage of low-priced
food, producing good trade in Preston. I remember
standing near this spot nineteen years ago, denouncing
the corn laws and other measures—it was in the panic of
'26—the meeting was held in January, '27. Since then
there has been a struggle, less or more, against the same
evils. For seven years the League have been enlight-
ening the people. In 1841, with a good harvest, there
were in Preston 1,000 cottages closed, and rents of cot-
tage property reduced 25 per cent. I don't tell you of
the charities that were instituted, of the advance in poor-
rates, or the complaints that were universal. All this
was caused by dear food. Then came a change; during
three years we have had good trade with cheap food—
crime reduced, as we are told by the Chaplain of the
House of Correction—there has been less sickness in the
Dispensary-revery cottage has been inhabited, and the

rents raised. So that nothing in the world is more
caple of demonstration than this, that if the priceea
food be high, you have bad trade, poverty, misery, an
crime; but if cheap and plentiful, you have the reverse*
—(Loud cheers.) I move the resolution which bl°
been put into my hands. It is as follows:—" That be
following memorial be presented to Sir Robert reel'
Order
praying for immediate opening of the ports, by an
in Council, and for the immediate assembling of Pour
ment, and that he would recommend the Legislature le,
pass a prompt measure for the untaxed admission et
all kinds of food." Now, can any man assign a suflieka
cause why any Government should pies a law to keep
other countries from sending us food, when we Sie
ing to buy it from them? The twofold effect of sue°l
wicked measure is, first, it raises the price of food; an
secondly, it depresses the manufactures, because th°s'
who bring us provisions are in general willing to take
our goods in return. The sliding-scale, of all measure!'
is the most ridiculous and oppressive. The sliding-gale
is designed simply to keep out food and raise the Prices'
in order that the rental of the landholder tutli,b.
maintained. That rental, I have no fear, would be rut!.
tained even if there were a total repeal of the corn
but on this principle, that to get more money out lo(
land the landowner would have to improve it ; instead°
getting high rent for bad land, he would have to oak!
the land worth the rent. I have no apprehension whir
ever of a total repeal doing the slightest injury to Agri);
culture. I don't think anybody believes it ; thole
make a noise about it don't, but they want to get AP";
rental without improvements. It is now time
change ; I believe that a change is near at hand. Twif,
never was so much change,within so short a time; ow',
we get free trade, whether from Whigs or Tories, eye'',
industrial department of the country will thrive be.tloi
but the country does not deserve it unless it struggle .41
it. I believe the thing will never be done effectually
the people themselves set their shoulders to the Ivor:.
and hold something like another Birmingham reeedlt;
—(Hear, hear.) Then will the Government see that lt°,,
people are in earnest, and will no longer be taxed I"
the support of the aristocracy.—(Cheers.) • la
Mr. JAMES FRANRLAND—I second this moneys
Sir B. Peel with great pleasure ; for I would the
as head of the British Government, should make Jill
tions consistent with his professions.—(Hear, bear. 32,
would that gentlemen making professions of Christine :he
should act a Christian part, and not withhold from
poor man his bread.—(Cheers.) The day has gone
when we would have gone begging cap in hand for tin
(Cheers.) I contend that it is our right and due;
(Cheers)—and no man, be his power what it WO b
a right to intervene between God and his creator;
and by prohibitory laws prevent them from elt,Ylifa
those blessings which, in his mercy, he has provi utniti
their use. The farmers, for whose benefit we are 7,6 t
this law was expressly framed, don't derive any.be!iTo
from it. It has been the curse and bane of arcullno
as well as of manufactures. Oh that we had bat be
election by ballot ! —then would the farmers let t.,.
landlords know how much they value their proteetti
I have conversed hours with many of them, ella tPie
tell me that they know these laws to be injuriotocso
every sense of the word; "but," say they, " whaS bis
we do ?" To what a state are they reduced when IS of
come to this ! They are poor, dependent la.
of the aristocracy, and know that if they
_Li
to breathe a complaint, there is some one 7:21'
to supplant them, and they ask, " What can we ev,
The farmers are not benefited, and they know it ;
manufacturers are not benefited, but crippled by lLt°,o
serious extent ; the operatives know they are not "10
fited, for I have felt the law an evil, and am sure 01
when food rises in value every department of trade If
be seriously affected. The corn-law, in my 00030
injurious to every class ; it ought not to
existence at any time ; but, under the present Cll'":„;
stances, I conceive it ought not to disgrace the sla`"
book of any country. I beg to second the motion. 00.
The CHAIRMAN then read the resolution and ale

rial, the letter of which was as follows :
TO THE RIGHT HON. SIR ROBERT PEEL, BART., f,P., Fligr
LORD OF THE 7 REASURY.
The Memorial of the Merchants, Bankers, Manufs-,„,;00.
Traders, and other inhabitants of the borough of I's'
in public meeting assembled,
Showeth,—,, That your memorialists feel convince( or
o!
the alarm in Ireland, owing to the potato disease, the,.4oio
tion of trade now felt in this district, and the fear
generally entertained, have all been produced or grestli
mented by our present. corn-laws; that these laws her
vented large quantities of grain being stored up lereir
country ; have induced other countries to manufacttflor
stead of extending the cultivation of their soils; end' oiler
ing upon a failing harvest, are sure to aggravate the
ings of the people, by making food scarce and dear. ;0 the
"Your memorialists. desire, therefore, to express!
strongest manner, their deliberate and confirmed oPim°s-boslui
the circumstances of the country require that the ports, di a
forthwith be opened for the free admission of all kI,II, cor
grain ; and, further, that her Majesty's Ministers 1'6:v1;0"
suit the true interests of all classes in this kingdom.,""goiti,
mitting to the Legislature, at the very earliest °pi:011100
a measure for the entire removal of the corn-laws--,h
of agriculture and the blight of commerce."
The motion was agreed to. ted,
Mr. LIVESEY moved that the Chairman be req".,,," pre
01-
to subscribe the memorial for the meeting, and
it to Sir Robert Peel. obi
The Rev. Mr. EDWARDS seconded the motion, 11
was agreed to. beviPg
Thanks having been voted to the Mayor for 4
called the meeting, and to the Chairman for the cep
satisfactory manner in which ho had preside& the /13
ing separated.

Nothing could be better devised than Nicolr!fite
gistered Paletot to suit the ever-varied nature of our elp.
forming, as it now does, not only the sins Pia n°ll4olll,
railway traveller, but is equally so adapted for any ge".„-00"
taking out-door. exercise. It may be said distinctly .40.btlf
the costume of the nineteenth century, if that Is .170
called marked which is only conspicuous for an unpre'resss
and graceful bearer, the wearer feeling so much 5;1,e1m
Certainly as an over-coat it is patronised highly, 50,n,1-
a general public favourite, being so peculiarly Eng"Ne
avoiding all foreign extravagance of style. It must
.00
knowledged as a vast improvement over the old fres ..eir
-associated in our remembrance with an uncomfortable
tion of tight buttonings, which, from its very elutsrisj
defeated its object, the warmth of the person, as 10,teAbiisi
with the proper circulation of the blood. The PrinclP„4lol./
are black, blue, brown, and olive; also the clerics, '—notr,
called Oxford, and can be had of the patentees, °I. "fieLt
the most respectable clothiers out of London. Everf lid
~d
paletot is three guineas, and is stampted in the linroo4
the words, " Registered 6 and 7 Vic., cap. 65. H•
Nicoll, 114, Regent-street, London.
AUDACIOUS AND SYSTEMATIC HOUSE KOBgE
—Since last Monday, the neighbourhood of St. Jou_7lo.o,L
Clerkenwell, has been thrown into a state of g'restrA;ool
consequence of the following daring robberies
the house of Mr. Walker, surgeon, John-street, is
whence it is supposed that the burglars It 1
a shed, and thus effected an entrance thr°l`; Iv"
stair-case window into his bedroom, where rts tad
-
Mrs. Walker were sleeping. Being in want of lies gth
drew up the blind, and pinned it. They then to°,: brow,
watch from the pocket in the curtains, a goP.Wilik"
from the drawers, and likewise emptied Mr. „ 07,
trouser's pocket of their contents; after which the.T
down etairs, ate a quartern loaf and a pot of jelly,* Tool
then proceeded to an adjoining house, and entered, speoj,
where a man and four children were sleeping, brstestft
writing-desk, and took out of it 91. 10s, They 11%is
descended to the kitchen, where they drank spa
smoked cigars, which they found there. After t,lb
entered the two adjoining houses, the beds of Vli OP'
ransacked, although several parties were sleeping loed tO ,es
Strange to say, although valuable plate was expo; Aet'of
predation, they never touched it, lest, it is supposeutooleot
marks upon it should lead to their detection. Th`were 50
these robberies were perpetrated in an hour, aill.„sr 0.14
discovered until the servants arose at the usue:norieew
morning. Mr. Walker has offered 100!. for al jl3.-
that will lead to the arrest of e burglars.
Ay Pi°
BARBAROUS MURDER.-On SI/SONY - (hi!.
man named James Costelloe, a tenant of Burton Pe as rr"of
of Moyada Castle, county Galway, and who' acted.4o,o f
warner, was murdered on the townland of Killesbw. sells
Freshford. The unfortunate man was seated 1.010.1
with the members of his family, and was shot thldif
window by some unknown assassin, who took 'lc tce:sol
from the outside. The ball passed ehroll ea
4011
neck, awl killed him on the spot. Tile Ica
was a witness most instrumental in the P irk t 0
and conviction of the notorious Tracys, whinjests
stance would be of itself sufficient to adjudgei that pp
him by the Rockite code ; but we understalw .wed.#
was also lately concerned in driving stock distrt;etsl.
rent on a neighbouring farm. It is a ,curious circt bo
that a gentleman a few days since informed us therolol4
served the ruffian Daly, who was implicated in thecoo7,j,
of Mortimer and Hoyne, and gained his freedom hi "Isbf°
r'ett/
an approver, lurking in tho neighbourhood 0r 0_
and remarked at the time, "We shall soon hear °bstic
assassination in this part of the country"—s Pr:Fled. of
nervation which has been too well and speedily re 'otiOtildet
inquest was held on Monday, and after the exsei 00 ~.
witnesses, the jury returned a verdict of " Viriu",a
against some person or persons unknown." —Ki the
rotor. pod
The Governor of the Bank of England, •
Deputy-Governor, had an interview with the Ch.lo ce It)Deputy-Governor,
pce
of the Exchequer yesterday, at his official roil"-
Downing-street. _