The Sun.
London, England, 1844-01-04 00:00:00

RCITIL

LONDON, 7111URSDAY, JANUARY 4, 1844

According to accounts from Bombay, dated the Ist
of December, British troops were moving in various
directions towards the Punjaub, where a crisis was
speedily anticipated. The greatest disorder prevailed,
many of the native inhabitants had fled for shelter
within the British frontier, and the . foreign officers,
the only parties that could conduct an army with suc-
cess against the Affghans, who threatened an inva
sion, were fast resigning their commands and leaving
the country. Lord ELLENBOROUGH was about to set
out for that quarter, when important operations would
commence. The whole of llindos:an under the Bri-
tish dominion is perieclly tranquil, and forms a con-
trast honourable to -England, when compared with the
disturbed state of Gwalior, Lahore, and other dis-
tricts governed ..by native Princes. From China the
accounts on the whole are satisfactory. The trade
along the coast was carried on without interruption.
A supplementary treaty of much importance had been
arranged by Sir HENRY POTTINGIitt and the Chinese
Government, and, with the exce,Aion of some
he diffe shufflrent
ing
on the part of the old Hong ►
merchants, t
Authorities showed every desire to observe with good
faith the new relations between the two countries.

An anti-League movement, we perceive, has
" come off" in Sussex. At the new Corn Exchange
at Chichester, an adjourned meeting of the principal
landowuers and farmers of the Chichester and Steyning
districts was yesterday held, ostensibly for the pur-
pose of discussing a resolution to found a requisition
for an agricultural meeting of the whole county,
which will be held at Steyning. We are quite
willing to give the parties who attended at Chichester

on this occasion all credit for the sincerity of the I
views avowed by them—as well as for their enormous
fallacy. But it does seem very strange that plv..ctical
men,—that men, who may be presumed to have their
eyes open, if we cannot give them credit for being by
any means " wide awake"—should be so blind to the
progress of passing events, so insensible to the
march of the great questions of free trade,
and corn-law abolition, through the land—
heralded as these are by no small array of
" pomp and circumstance; " no trifling auxiliaries of
influence, talent, and station ; as not to see at least
that they are altogether too late a-field ! They have
not come "to time." Two eventful years—two
hurrying years, crowded with all sorts of combina-
tions, announcements, and developments—with newly
awakened perceptions of national interests, and the
results of an universal demand that all tuture legis-
lation shall be for the welfare of the great community,
not of mere class interests of the empire—two years,
we say, have come and have passed since the period at
which they might have hoped to make out a case to
arrest the decree of 'public opinion. But that decree
has past. Corn-law protection has no better legs to
stand on than Pennsylvanian repudiation or Walbrook
withholding.
The Chichester meeting was a very poor affair'
however, and may wend its way quietly to oblivion—
a point which it will reach promptly, -without a rail-
road. The speech of Mr. NEWLAND contained a suffi-
ciently fair resume of the relative statistics of produc-
tion and taxation as to agriculture and manufactures
(which it will ever be one of the distinctions of the
last year to have so widely diffused among the people);
but Mr. NEWLAND'S argument was a melancholy
failure in applying them in support of the doctrines
he advocated.

The news from Ireland is of an interest which in-
creases, with the approximation of the State Trials,
in intensity. This is no more than was to be expected,
but there is one additional feature of painful import-
ance about it, with the presence of which we could
have willingly dispensed. We allude to the palpable
disposition on the part of the law officers of the
Crown to press the proceedings against the State
traversers with a degree of " sharp practice" which
savours too much of hostile prepossession against the
offenders! In these matters,—in Crown prosecutions
—under any circumstances—we hold that the ancient
theory of our law which was always avowed, but ge-
nerally so little acted on, and which in the modern
practice of our Courts upon the whole, has been much
more largely acted upon and practically re-
cognised, than contended for in argument by counsel
t
or affirmed and ruled by judges ; is the more expedient
as well as the more humane. This sound theory is, to
leave the law, which is to govern judgment in the
cause, unstrained, and as little as possible qualified ;
but to afford the parties to be tried on charges of
having violated it, all reasonable facilities and in-
dulgence to enable them to prepare for their defence
and vindication. The law knows nothing of the indi-
vidual delinquent ; and any considerations specially
affecting his personal case, are therefore not to be
assumed as those which should govern its own admi-
nistration. But with regard to the affair of the
pending State trials in Dublin, this doctrine, for ob-
vious reasons, it is absolutely essential to act up to.
We do not feel it necessary to pronounce any opinion
on the published correspondence between the solicitor
for the Crown, and the several solicitors for the va-
rious defendants, or to decide between the merits of
Mr. PIERCE A.TAHONEY'S long notices to Mr. KEMMIS,
and Mr. KEMMIS'S brusque reply to them. All we
have to say on the point is,—that we earnestly trust,
for the sake of all parties concerned, but most ear-
nestly of all for the purity and majesty of the law,
that no occasion will be afforded for any just com-
plaint hereafter, that the strictness of technical pro-
cess has been wrested, by the law officers of the Go-
vernment, to the purpose of hampering, hurrying, or
otherwise prejudicing the defence for the State tra-
versers.

In another part of the paper will be found intelli-
gence from Madrid, dated Dec. 27, of great import-
ance. On that day the QUEEN dissolved the Cortes,
following the advice tendered to her by her fugitive
Minister Oi.ozAGA, for which he was threatened with
impeachment, and barely escaped assassination.
NARVAEZ will thus have two months more of des-
potic rule, and by that time Queen CHRISTINA and
he will throw aside the Constitution as an old
almanack.

The change which has taken place in the public
mind, with regard to the principles of trade, within
the last two years, forms a remarkable phenomenon
in the history of the country. Every day we receive
reports of meetings held in large towns and small
towns—even in county market towns, frequented
only by farmers, and in cathedral towns, under al-
most the undivided influence of the Church, assem-
bled solely for the purpose of discussing the taxes on
bread, sugar, and the other principal neces-
saries of life. These meetings are not held
in the open air ; they are not got up to
catch the multitude; they are unattended by any
appearance of violence ; they are not the monster
assemblies that distinguished the Reform era ; or
that during the last year have caused such alarm in
England and Ireland on the Repeal question. They
arc the meetings of men, it is true, bent on a purpose,
and a great purpose; but the speeches are not mixed
up with any threats, or with any furious abuse, either
of landlords, tenants, or monopolists of any descrip
tion.

All is left to the calm voice of reason and the
power of argument ; and r.ever was a peaceable and
rational agitation so triumphantly victorious. Some
twelve months ago every free trade meeting was in-
fested by a body of Chartists, who, in despair of ob-
taining their rights, thwarted every attempt to
obtain partial relief; counter resolutions were moved,
and not unfrequently carried, or, if they failed
in their purpose, a serious uproar was the consequence.
Chartists now attend these assemblages like other
people, and, as a testimony of their sincere repent-
ance, subscribe their mites to the great League fund.
In another part of the paper will be found a report-of
a meeting held on Tuesday evening at Oldham, one of
the most radical boroughs in the kingdom, when all
the lower classes joined heartily in the cause, and
every man gave according to his means. Pounds, and
crowns, and half-crowns, and even shillings, were
poured in from all quarters, and by eleven o'clock a
very handsome sum was placed in the hands of the
Treasurer. Manchester has raised 20,0001. Liverpool
6,0001., and almost every town has followed in the
wake. But, what is most remarkable of all, there is
an utter apathy on the part of those oppoied to the
League. Even in Essex, the county above all others
likely to raise a loud noise against COBDEN and
BRIGUT, the attempt to form a counter league has
been an utter failure, and but one other county, Sussex,
has yet followed the example. The clergy are silent;
the farmers almost to a man support the reform of
the corn-laws; and even the Duke of RICHMOND, the
most rational, yet most determined anti-corn-law man
in the country, in place of getting up meetings to sup-
port his party, and making strong speeches against
the men given to change, confines his labours to the
praiseworthy task of writing articles on agricultural
improvement for a Farmers' Journal. This happy
result is • honourable to the English character. The
English are obstinate in their purposes; they are often
headstrong,and'unwilling to give up their opinions; but
when reasoned with as rational beings, when all the
facts of the case are laid before them, and they
are left to judge, their verdict is seldom wrong.
That is the course which Mr. COBDEN has pursued.
lie has appealed to their reason and their judgment—
he has shown that he has no more interest in the ques-
tion than any other member of the community—and
they have almost unanimously decided in his favour.
We regard the question as settled. The .strong Go-
vernment, even with all the corn-law Lords and
Commoners at its back, is too weak to strive with the
voice of the nation.

We have little to add to the intelligence from Paris
given in another part of the paper. On that day the
Chamber of Deputies assembled to appoint a Commit-
tee for drawing up an Address to the Royal Speech,
when seven Ministerialists out of the nine Commis-
sioners were chosen. Their names are MM. ST.
MAAC GIRARDIN, NIZARD, DESMOUSSEAUX DE GIVRE,
BIGNON, BAUMES, HEBERT, and FRAN9OIS DELES-
SERT. The Opposition Commissioners are MM.
BETUMONT and Ducos. M. BIGNON was supported
both by the Conservatives and the Opposition. 380
Deputies took part in the ballot, In one of the bu-

reaux 11. THIERS put some questions to M. GUIZOT
relative to the visit of the Queen of ENGLAND, and
asked whether the new and friendly relations between
France and England had produced any good
fruits relative to the question of the right of
search, or the affairs of Spain. M. GUIZOT
said, with regard to the first question, negotiations
had re-commenced, and England had consented to
these negotiations, and every consideration would be
given to the wish of the French Chamber and of the
French public in these negotiations. And in refe-
rence to Spain, the mutual understanding between
England and France would give more security to that
country. In some of the bureaux propositions were
made for inserting a paragraph in the addresss con-
demning the conduct of the Legitimists who visited
the Duke of BottnEaux. N. BERRYEIL and his
friends refused to make any other reply to questions
put to them on the subject, than that they would
answer before the Chamber.

BOURSE-PARIS, TUESDAY, JAN. 2.
First Highest Lowest Last
Price. Price. Price. Price.
French Five per Cents. 123 60... 123 95... 123 60... 123 90
Four'per Cents 104 65... 1(14 65... 104 65... 104 65
Threes s2 10... 82 25... 82 10.. 82 20
Rank of France 3225 —.3225 —.3215 ...3217 50
Belgian Bank 707 50... 710 ... 707 50... 710
Belgian Fives 2.
1840 1074 107 k ... 107 i ... 1074
Dutch '2 per Cents 564 ...56 ... 56 ... 56
Spanish Active , 291 ... 29i ... 291 ... 291
Passive ...... 5 ... 5 ... ... 5
Neapolitan ..... ........ 107 ... 107 107 ... 107
Roman

RAILWAY SHARES.
St. Germain 7BO ... 780 ... 780
Versailles, L. 8...
Rouen
Rouen to Havre ......
Orleans.
Strasburg to Bale. 215 ... 215 ... 212 50... 212 50
Avignon to Marseilles 655 ... 660 ... 655 ... 660
RAILWAY SHARES, FOR THE ACCOUNT.
Versailles, L.B. lB2 50... 185 ... 182 50... 185
Rouen
Rouen to Havre , 638 75... 642 50... 638 75 .. 642 50
Orleans
Strasburg to Bale 213 75... 213 75... 213 75... 213 75
Avignon to Marseilles 660 ... 660 ... 645 .. 645

Sir Robert Peel is expected to arrive in town this
evening, from his seat Drayton Manor, Staffordshire.
The Chancellor of the Exchequer is also expected in
town this day. Others of the Cabinet Ministers are
expected to arrive in town in the course of a few days.

LLOYD'S SHIPPING.-(THIS DAY.)
LONDON, JAN. 4.—Light airs from W. S. W.,and cloudy.
DEAL, JAN. 3.—Wind S.W., moderatr.—Arrd. Maria
Somes, Baker, Calcutta; Pearl, Earl, Newfoundland.
DOVER, JAN. 2.—Arrd. Vargas, Lopez, St. Jago de Cuba,
for Hamburgh.
PORTSMOUTH, JAN. 3.—Wind S, to W.S.W.—Arrd. Ma-
lacca and Duke of Bedford, Loudon, for Madras; Erin, ditto,
for Dominica; Quebec, ditto, for New York.
BRISTOL, JAN. 3. —Arrd. Maria, Thomas, Berbice.
MARGATE' JAN. 3._-The Ocean, Watson, from Sierra
Leone to London, on shore near Kingsgate, is bilged and quite
a wreck—cargo discharging in a damaged state.
MILroRn, JAN. 2.—lt commenced blowing hard from
W. S.W., at 8, p.m. yesterday, and soon afterwards shifted to
N. W., with a violent show squall, and blew a strong gale.
CORK, JAN. I.—Arrd. Wanderer, Newfoundland. Sid.
Elizabeth, New South Wales; Lauriston, Trinidad; Indian
Queen, Barbadoes ; Glengariff, Jamaica ; Henry Duncan,
Marian, and Woodstock, Charleston.
YARMOUTH, JAN. 3.—The Williams, Buckton, from Dordt
to London, which arrived in the roads yesterday, has come into
harbour leaky and will have to discharge.
HARWICH, JAN. 3.—The Agnes, of Jersey, from Hartle-
pool to Mistley, is on shore on the Cork sand, but expected off
next tide.
BEAUMARIS, JAN. I:—Arrd. Hardware, Shaw, St. John's,
for Preston.
SHEERNESS, JAN. 2.—The John and William (not the
John and Mary), of Blyth, bound to London, which got on
the Maplin Sand 30th ult., came off the 31st, after discharging
part of her cargo.
WELLS, JAN. 2.—The Jane arid Ellen, Backing, from
Goole, came on shore this morning westward of the harbour.
LIVERPOOL, JAN. 3.—Wind E. S.E. to S.W., moderate.—
Arrd. Fairfield, Wilson, New York. Arrd. off, American,
Savannah. Sid. Devon, and Patriot King, Calcutta; Agnes,
Monte Video; Bazelius and Solid, Rio; William Russell,
Pernambuco; Birkby and Isabella, Demerara; Jas. Duncan,
Trinidad ; Wanderer, Margarita ; Zenobia, Havannah ; Bir-
mingham and Intrepid, New Orleans.

CORN AVERAGES.
GENERAL AVERAGE PRICES OF BRITISH CORN,
For the Week ended December 30,18.13, made up from the Returns of
the Inspectors in the different Cities and Towns in England and
Wales, per Imperial Quarter.
Wheat 4.94 Ild. Oats ... 183 51,1 Beane 3O;. Id
Barley 323. 3d. I Rye

AVERAGES OF THE LAST Sll WEEKS.
Weeks ending WHEAT. BARLEY.I OATS. I RYE. j BEANS.

PRASE.

--- ---k--,--
51 7 32 1 19 0 30 8 52 4 133 4
51 0 31 8 19 0 30 7 31 10 33 0
51 1 31 8 18 8 30 1. 32 0 33 6
50 0 32 0 Hi 6 30 0' 31 6 32 0
50 9 3'2 2 18 7 29 9I 30 10 30 10
,499323 18 5 31 4130 130 6
IMPERIAL AGGREGATE AVERAGES OF THE SIX WEEKS
W heat 50.. Bd. I Oats ... ...... 18s. Si.)
Bea
Peas w .31
23 .s 5d
ed
Barley 323. 02 Rye ......... M)s. 521 e &.
DUTIES OW FOREIGN CORN.
Wheat ... ...... 203. Od. I Oats
Barley .......... es. Od. Rye ......... 10s. 6d.1 Pease ... los. 6d.

Nov. 25
Dec. 2