The Sun.
London, England, 1844-07-06 00:00:00

MINORITY-NOES, 40,

Ainsworth, Peter Egerton, W. T. Pechell, Captain
Aldam, William Ellis, Wynn Plumridge, Captain
Barnard, E. G. Entwisle, William Pryse, Pryse
Beckett, William Fielden, John Rollest on, Colonel
Borthwick, Peter Fleetwood, Sir P. Sibthorp, Colonel
Brocklehurst, J. Henley, J. W. Strickland, Sir G.
Brotherton, J. Hinde, J. H. Walker, It.
Browne, W. Hindley, Charles Wawn, John T.
Buck, Lewis W. Irton, S. Wood, Colonel
Burroughes, 11. N. Kemble, Henry Wrighston, W. B.
Chetwode, Sir John Layard, Captain
Colquhoniti, John C. Mackenzie, W. F. TELLERS.
Crawford, W. S. Morgan, Octavius Liddel, H. T.
D'Eyncourt, C. T. Morris, David Denison, E. Beeke it
Douglas, Sir H. Morrison James

SIR ROBERT PEEL'S CORN BILL.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE SUN.

Sin,—ln returning to town from North Wales, after a
most successful sale of land, I find that I have been
honoured by some remarks from Sir Robert Peel, whioh,
however complimentary they may at first appear, are still
liable to misinterpretation ; and as I am indebted to the
position that I enjoy in my profession from having pursued
one undeviating course, I hope you will enable me to
show that I have not committed myself in respect to the
corn-laws.

If I am not drawing too much on your valuable time
and space, I would ask you to give a quotation from
the speech of Mr. Gibson, M.P. for Manchester, and the
reply of the Minister. I find it thus reported :—" Why
the guarantee was so much relied on as to have induced
a celebrated auctioneer to use it in his announcements,
with a view to enhance the value of landed estates, and
to assert, upon the strength of it, that the question of the
corn-laws was perfectly and safely adjusted, inasmuch
as capitalists might now invest their capital in land with
a certainty that the existing state of things could not be
disturbed."

To this observation I find Sir R. Peel makes the following
remark :—" I do hope, therefore, that Hon. Gentlemen will,
in future, refer to my statement, and not to that authority,
high though it be, whose lucubrations they may have
time to peruse.—l mean Mr. George Robins, the auc-
tioneer." This may put on at:least an equivocal charac-
ter ; and, therefore, I ask you to let me quote the
remarks I have made in my advertisements, from
the speech of the Right Iron. Sir Robert Peel, on
the first night (I believe) of the present session of Perlin- '
ment, and then let the public judge between us. I
copied into my announcements, and verbatim, the cheer-
ing remark that follows, attl this "is the head and
front of my offending":—" ALTHOUGH I CONSIDER
IT INCONSISTENT WITH MY DUTY TO MAKE EN-
GAGEMENTS FOR ADHERING TO EXISTING LAWS,
UNDER ALL CIRCUMSTANCES, IN ORDER TO CON-
CILIATE SUPPORT, I CAN SAY THAT THE
GOVERNMENT HAVE NEVER CONTEM-
PLATED, AND DO NOT CONTEMPLATE, ANY
ALTERATION IN THE EXISTING LAW."
I have now only to ask in the intelligible language of
Shakespeare, " SPEAK OF ME AS I AM ; NOTHING
EXTENUATE, NOR SET DOWN AUGHT IN MA-
LICE." Perhaps I may be allowed to state that my
anxiety to give publicity to his speech (a per-
fect Godsend to the agricultural interest), was mainly
because a large portion of capitalists had doubted his
sincerity, and this could no longer exist after such an
unqualified assertion. The use and great utility of
this straightforward observation, has enabled me TO
SELL LAND THIS SEASON WITHOUT DIFFI-
CULTY, although not at a price which it is fairly en-
titled to, with reference to the high price of the fund.=.
But last season, while so much of doubt and uncer-
tainty clouded the agricultural horizon, it was all but
impossible to sell it at any price. In ray practice, I can
aver that, during four months in last year, I had estates
exceeding in value ONE MILLION POUNDS STERLING
TO SELL, WITHOUT A BIDDER FOR ONE OF THEM.

I apprehend this is tolerably good authority for
asking Sir Robert Peel, as I certainly did, to speak
out. The great benefit that the landed interest have
achieved by this unequivocal and good policy, will be
strengthened by a single commentary. It was only
during the last week, at Llanrwst, in North Wales, I sold
estates and houses, in and around the town, and extending
three or four miles from it, at an average of forty years' pur-
chase, on a fair annual value, and this to the extent of
seventy thousand guineas. I would suggest, also, that the
fate of Mr. Villiers's motion to alter the corn-laws, has
triumphantly put his false theory into the tomb of all
the Capulets, there to rest sine die. It is to the memor-
able declaration above quoted this victory may be
traced. I crave your indulgence for this lengthened
explanation, and to add that I trust the consequence will
be, that the UNSOLD MILLION I have alluded to in last
season will now find plenty of competitors at thirty
years' purchase.
I am, Sir, your very obedient servant,
July 5. 1844. GEORGE ROBINS.