The Sun.
London, England, 1844-01-10 00:00:00

fur

GREAT FOOT•IIACE or 100 YARDS.—The long-
talked-of running match between John Smith and Willox, a
first-rate pede:trian from Newcastle-upon-Tyne, came off yes-
terday near the Bull Inn, Whetstone. about a mile and a half
this side of Barret. The race was for 50/. aside, the distance
100 yards, and Willox the favourite. So sanguine, indeed,
were the friends of the latter, that 5 and 6 to 4 were freely
offered on heavy odds, which were increased to 7 to 4, and in
one instance to 2 to 1, as the time for the race approached.
The start was deferred until nearly five o'clock, when a gil'ant
race took place. Smith d shed off or, the signal being given,
with half a yard advantage its the start, and his opponent Bird
his utmost, but ineffectually, to overtake him. Smith retained
the lead at the most extraordinary speed, i.nd won by three
yards. There was a very large assemblage of sporting men on
the gr ,und, and, as betting was brisk, a very considerab'e sum
must have changed owners.
ROYAL FREE 9u,irterly P.« tignmi.
••
meeting, of the Governors of the Royal Free Hospital, Gray's
Inn-road, was h:ld last night, the hey. Dr. Worthington in
the ch tir. The Rev. It. C. Packman, the S'eeretarv,- read
the Report, which commenced by calling attention to ttut un-
precedented extent of destituti-m chi h has prevailed of late
in the metropo i,, and the determination of the (ommi!tree to
apply all the means at their disposal to the alleviation of every
case of destitution, accompanied by disease, which bad pre-
sented itself at the doors. The Committee also acknowledged
with gratitude a number of munificent donations:—The Queen
Dowager, 10'.) guineas; the King of Hanover, 300 guineas;
and Mr. J. It. Peg, t, of Messrs. Puget and Bainbridge's
(lank, 300 guineas, in three separate donations of 10.) guineas
each. He was prompted by a benevolent wish to serve the
charity, and to stimulate others to the same charitable act, and
each subscription was given as a challenge or, the condition
that some other person should do the same—the result wa,sAtihre
receipt of 300 guineas in addition to the 300 y•
tookPuget,—( Cheers.) The three gentleman who
Ri hard
up the glove " were, Mr. Henry Kingscote,
the isCritials
Comins, and an anonymous subscriber, under
months to the
" P. D." • The total receipts for the last three mbonof
so nobly
build;ng and general :urrls were 2,373/. num,anit
persons
derns
relieved during the quarter were as follow:5
the wards, 251 ; accidents, cut-patient.„?
Dispatchea from the Gorarhor of Jamaica, ano from the
Governors of the other West Indian Colonils, were reeetved
yesterday, at the Colonial-s•flice.

~"

e(etes)..
aes
peetai toe.i been reariseii, and liniad he'ilfe'ell • ithritin;
elynge might be hazardous butt' it araitr, r`geil
tiered change desirable. But, ;were .it Otritereeiettiseresat ens
fur whom they not
either ni.anUfaCturees fore.alliers
working class, not equally entitreel' toefier:sta.-66)n by t I
and were they to droop and die lieceausesotireve—hid. le-
,
eeived? But who said, for instanctviitleaktto ettltiviteareis the
laud required this injustice to the clititiblenify Iliqtotec-
flan ? Was it he who, from his extensive experience in agri •
celture, from his great possessions as a landowner, an his
high, character as a nobleman, placed him at the head of that
Society which professed to exist for she improvement of agri-
culture—he meant Lord Spencer?—(Great cheering.) -No ;
they had lately heard his opinions, and he had avowed them in
ejudi-
etu publicl
ts to the
teahtesd •fpioneropa
tre privater,i_cu(iffi
rir,eet,eerdnse.
lyears)usi
y‘evbat ensfiottr ,ee a,fna,,rdmhdeclarede)sre, avnast
pihem to
sions gave great authority to his well-timed letter and mini&
ceht girt to the fund of the League ? 'No ; for his lettericon-
tains the denial. Was it he whom Professor Buckland, in the
presence -of Sir Robert Peel, at the dinner at Taniworth,
said was an example to the land:oe4 and the farmer, for
his intelligent treatment of his property ?—he meant Lord
Ducie.—(Cheers.) No; he is a member of, and a
contributor to, the Anti-Coin-law League. There is another
nobleman said to be a practical firmer, and of princely pos-
sessions, he meant the Duke of Bedford, and he was friendly
to the repeal of these laws.--(Cheers.) In short, wherever
they found a clear head and a clear estate combined, there
they usually found a friend ; but wherever both were muddled
these laws were clung to.—( !leer.) What was it that they
heard of the farmer himself? North, south, east, and west,
there was nothing but complaint of the depressed condition
Of the British farmer. He was in the predicannut of a man
who had made an improvident bargain, and was unable to
extricate himself.—( Hear.) Judging fi cm his own account,
it would be difficult to suppose !het any change could injure
his condition, but it was the labourer's lot on which they :de-
lighted-to dwell._( Hear, and laughter.) Oh, if they Were
in the House of Commons when the corn-laws were discussed,
how good, and kind, and benevolent to the yoor, would
they think the majority of that House, who maintained these
laws !—( Hear, and laughter.) From the beginning to the
end the poor were the subjects of their case; the simple pur-
pose, as it was alleged, of supporting these laws, was en
their account ; and they remembered at this time last year,
the touellipg description given at -the dinner of the Derect-
shire squires, of their condition in that county—how happy
and contented they were, and how they loved the poor, and
hew the poor loved them; and the poetic description given of
them by Mr. Batiks. And they remembered bow, a few
short months afterwards, this paradise was described by the
Queen's Commissioners sent to investigate the mattes-; and
how much more like another place they represented lit.--
( Laughter. ) But with all this professed interest in his . fete,
what was his own story? The c-ndition of the agricultural
districts told it. It was the old sad argument of ignorance and
despair, and hideous crime against society—the destruction
of p.cperty by fire.—( Hear.) Were these, then, the existing
interests that afforded the tufficient excuse for the coat inuan•
cf this injustice?—(clear, hear.) But. if it were still thought
by some that there would be use in offering some compromise
of their; claim, his answer was that the experiment bad already
been made. It had Leen made by I ord Jain Russell under
eircumstauces which, if ever justifiable, was at that time.
There;was much lets knowledge and vouch less feeling on the
subject then than there is now, and the landlerds were
strong in consequence of that. ignorance. And how was
that proposition, so favourable as regarded them received?
They were ertou'ed, derided, and the most dieing things' said
in favour of the law arid about his motives ; and he (Mr.
Villiers) trusted he would new, l' repeat the proposition—
for he must now see that the aristocracy would not accept
his fixed duty, that the people' at large were in fiercer
of the trade being free, and that he could not get rid
of the present scale wiilmut popular support.—(Loud
cheering.) It was therefore his (Mr. Villiers') firm con-
viction that the honest and just course was the most attainable.
—(Cheers.) He had no interest in expressine this opinion, if
he did not believe it. He had never served on interest by ad-
vocating reveal, and could he believe that the condition of the
country could be equally imerored by maintaining the law, arid
that its repeal was unattainable, he would be silent in future.—
( Hear.) As far, however, as he could judge there was nothing
to favour this idea. From every quarter the League appeared
to receive encouragement. They were Low most judiciously
visiting the constituencies, and they had gone nowhere among -
them witfiOut producing a deep impreseion cf the truth and
justice of their cause.e--(Cheers.) And when it was con-
sidered that these were the sources of the power by which the
law might be repealed, the prospect was cheering of their, ulti-
mate success.—(Cheers.) T W
The electors of this kingdom Were,
in fact, comparatively few; they did not Ineaf d four or five
hundred thousand ; and, judging by the conversion they had
already effected, there was little reaaon for despair.--
(Cheere.) There was no power in the country more likely
to achieve the object than a permanent, persevering, untiring
body ; such as the body of men of the League had proved
themselves to be. Their objects were defined, and their cha-
racters established, and they Lad little reason to be diverted
from their purpose ; Dor would they du justice to the cause
if they gave any herd to the silly slanders, or the foul calum-
nies that were propagated by their opponents.—(Cheers.). Ile
would only add, that if that meeting were satisfied that. the
League had done much, and were capable of doing more ;
and that by extending the agitation they would finally succeed,
it was clear that they must do more than express their ap-
proval ; and, to use the words of Lord Westminster,' they
" must contribute aid more in the shape of solid pudding than
in words of praise." They must now trust for success to the
continuance of the efforts of the League, and they must nos
suffer the League to linger fur want of means.--( Hear.)
Their expenditure was great, and their funds .should. be equal
to their objects.—(Cheers.) Mad their powers been-more
extended hitherto, the agitation would be nearer to its elate at
present.—( Hear.) Had twenty Cobdens and twenty Brights
been in the field at once, the impression which they had pro-
duced wherever they had been, would now have been general
throughout the country. He believed that a contribution to
the League was seed set upon the rock which would bring
fruit in its time; and if nut, might console those who had
given, that they had promoted that best deed of charity, not
only to relieve distress as it exists, but to prevent its occur-
rence. For his own part he would say, that whatever small
service he could render to the calm should seer be antheir
c mmand, and lie could only say that had he the same strength
and leisure and power, he should be quite ready to pursue the
same con 53 as his distinguished f, ienit Mr. Cobden was doing,
wheal he hoped they were about to hear. The lion. Mem-
ber resumed his seat. amid the long-continued applause of the
meeting.- .
Mr. COBDEN, M.P., was next called upon, and Was received
with loud cheers and waving of handkerchiefs. He coogra-
, !elated the nteeting on the speech they had just heard, and
said, having their leader in this question an.ongst them, it was
only due to him to, offer him all the encouragement in -their
power. Considering the position in society which he held,
there were few men, sinless made of very s•s stuff indeed,
could have pursued the straightforward, undeviating, and con-
sistent course which had marked his conduct on this question.
Let them hope that in these times; when his political virtue would
be put is a harder trial still, to resist compromises and offers
of all kinds to stave off .ull justice—lit them hope that is
these times he would find support and encouragement to carry
11. m through. He would state most sincerely that sn long as
the conducting cf this question in the House of Commcns- re-
mained in the hands of Mr. Villiers, he should have the most
implicit confidence in its safety—(llear)--and he. miga add,
of any future Government which undertook the settlement of
this question—that the confidence with which they treated Mr.
Villiers would be no bad test of the confidence which it de-
served at the hands of the country.—(Loud cheers.) After
entering at some length into the gut s:ien of repeal, the Hon.
Member concluded as follows :_My Hon. Friend (the Chair-
man) has said something of which I would say a word. I am
not much of a casuist, and I must bear in mind that he will
have the opportunity of reply immediately I sit down.: but
he said he would be more thankful for repeal to Wl.igs, than
Tories. —(Laughter.) Ido net pretend to say how much we
should be thankful to this or that party for that which we Claim
as a right, but if I might express an opinion, I think we gene-
rally give the greatest amount of gratitude for favours when
they come from quarters least expected.—( Laughter end ap-
plause.) Now, 1 must confess, that I don't expect Sir. Robert
Peel to repeal the corn-laws. lam not quite sure that Lord
John will do that either, but perhaps my friend Mr. Cheetham
will do that kindness for us, as he is the conscience-keeper of
that party.—(Laughter. ) But though we will nut iut in the
scales to try the exact amount of gratitude we should give to
either party, this I will say, that the League don't care a rush
from what party they have it.—( Applause.) Therefore, don't
let any man'suppose lii• oeinioos wiii be ouirrged by joitte.ig the
League. —( Hear.) 1 have frequently thought it ever, and Ido
not think there is a single question we could incorporate with
the corn law agitation, but it would scatter unto the winds.—
( Hear. ) It would make us a rope of sand.—( !leer. ) Cob•
den re ferred to the letter of the Merquis of Westminster, end
the effect it was ',reducing:. lie congratulated the Men.ber for
Ashton on the support given him to- night b) h s eonstitueots,
.and said lie had no doubt it would he to the people of Ashtoa
themselves a triumph tha they had contributed so largely to
the settlement of this great world's question.—( Loud el.eers.)
Mr. R. R. illoont then an untied the I'o lowing subserip-
tiens Last estate This es ar.
Robert Ashton, Dukinfield Hall £lOO ...
.425.00
I Robert Lees and Sons. Dukinfield
Thomas Ashton, Famery-field
200 ... 409
J. t. Rayner, Esq , Ashton lOO ... 300
.1. Whittaker and Suns, Hurst lOO ... 3tlo
W. Bayley and Brothers, tetaleylnidge lOO .
S. Ashton, Pole Bank lO3 ... 3jo
G. Cheetham and Sons, Sialeybridge lOO ...a 300
Nath. Barkley and Sons, Carr-hill — .•. •• 200
Robert Platt, Staleybridge ... ,
Abel Buckley, Ryeerott
J. S. 'Buckley, Ryeereft.... .50 .. 100
Charles Howard, Hyde lOO ... 100
Richard Marley lOO ... 101)
The total subscription was ultimately announced to be
4,33 q. 2s. The announcement was received with tre-
mendous applause.
Mr. .1. CIIEF.TII9M moved a vote of limas to the Hop. C.
L P. Villiers, the Deputation, and the League.—Carried.
Col. feweiPSON acknowledges( the compliment ; and after a
vote of thanks by Mr. Cobden, to the Chairman, the meeting
separated.