The Sun.
London, England, 1845-12-08 00:00:00

THE SUN, LONDON, MONDAY EVENING, DECEMBER 8, 1845.

FREE TRADE MEETING.
A great free trade meeting was held on Friday
court-read, coaiposed of the friends of free trade and
the enemies of monopoly. The spacious hall was fillA
in all parts, from the floor to the lofty roof, and the
greatest enthusiasm pervaded the proceedings through-
out. General Briggs took the chair.
The Gallant GENERAL opened the business of the meet-
ing by directing attention to the state of the markets,
the potato crops, the public meetings being held against
the corn-laws throughout the kingdom, the enormously
increased price of the people's bread (estimated lity the
League at twenty millions a year, or four hundred thou-
sand pounds a week over the price of last year), and
proceeded to observe that Sir Robert Peel had, in the
last session of Parliament, told the country that " the
corn-laws would necessarily require some modification,
but it should be done gradually and cautiously." Sir
James Graham, the Gallant Ganeral continued, insisted
on "the urgent necessity and duty of providing enlarged
supplies of food for a growing population, and of giving
a free and uninterrupted current to the flow of national
industry ;" and in the same speech that Minister says,
that •t an abundant supply cf food is, after all, the matter
of primary legislative importance." And the Times of
the day before had told them that the " Mtnisters had
r:solved to assemble Parliament early in January, and
to propose the total and unconditional repeal of the corn
and provision laws."—(Hear, and loud cheers.) The
Gallant General, in allusion to this statement, read ano-
ther extract from the Times, in allusion to its authority
being questioned by two other journals, purporting to be
official, viz. :

"The surprise excited by the announcement in the Times
of yesterday, on the subject of the corn-laws, has been no-
where so intensely felt as in the offices of the twin
journals,' which have been for some time under the delusion
that they are the organs of the Government. It has been the
monomania of these two melancholy prints to imagine that
they possessed the confidence of the Treasury, and they
have been babbling about the corn-laws to the very last,
under the erroneous impression that they would be the first
to be apprised of any important resolution of the Cabinet.
It was only yesterday that the morning half of these precious
Gemini indulged in a dreary drivel to prove that the corn-
laws were no failure,' and that therefore the Premier ought
not to be expected to abandon them. The aged gossip was
not aware that the question on which she was exhausting
her garrulity had been already virtually settled. Having
been amused at the blundering ignorance of the Mrs. Gamp
of the press, we looked with some curiosity to what she
would say in the character of Mrs. Harris. The effect pro-
duced upon that female nobody is quite astounding. She
don't believe a word of it,' for she has heard nothing about
it from Mrs. Gamp, who is the only authority for the opi-
nions of Mrs. Harris."
(The reading of the above excited roars of laughter in
the meeting.) If the intelligence in the Times were
true, who, he (the Gallant Chairman) would ask had
brought it about ? (Hear, hear.) The sturdy, uncom-
promising Tories of their own accord ?—(No, no)—
or had they been driven to it for fear of the popularity
of the Whigs ?—(Laughter.) The farmer would say,
" Why, did not we all along tell you there must be a
change ? and now the time has come."—(Hear, hear.)
Sir James Graham would say, " Did not I tell you that,
after all, an adequate supply of food for the people must
be the first consideration ?"—(Hear, hear.) The
Whigs would say, " Lord John has been convinced
and has changed his opinion, and so have we,
who do not think the existence of the Constitution
depends on the support of the landed interest." Both
parties (continued the Gallant Chairman) had been con-
vinced, but by whom ?—(Hear, hear.) By the people
—(Cheers)—whom it has been the object of the League
to collect in thousands of meetings, like that which he
then had the honour to preside over, to instruct—
(Loud cheers)—and to declare that they will have
these restrictions on the food of the people—these
starvation laws no longer.—(Rapturous applause.) The
Whigs touk care not to do too much—(Hear, hear)—
' they did sway with some rotten boroughs, but they
kept some few for themselves.—(Hear, hear.) They
grant/N:1 votes, for the first time, to leasehold house-
holders of ten pounds in boroughs, and gave to coun-
ties 501. leasehold votes. That reform was spoiled in
the making—(Hear, hear)—and when more was de-
manded by the people, those who had accomplished the
work, frightened at what they had done, called out
they should have no more.—(Hisses.) That Whig
Ministry lost the confidence of the people in its finality
system.—(Hear and cheers.) And though they knew
what was right, they clung to their order, and cheated
the people till they were turned out.—(Loud cheers
and cries of " Hear, hear.") The Gallant General then
proceeded to show, that a third party had risen up,
which had no ancestry to be proud of, nor connexion
with the aristocracy.—(Cheers.) It could boast,
he said, of what ennobled beyond a long line of de-
ceased ancestors. It had integrity, honesty of purpose,
and no cunning, nor left-handedness.—(Cheers.) It had
abundance of wealth, and by frugal habits, and habitual
dberality, it knew when and where to spend at the pro-
per time and place.—(Applause.) The free-traders and
the leaders of the middle class constitute that "third
party"—(Cheers)—and that party, having headed this
movement, had achieved, by peaceful agitation, in six
years, what could have been effected by no other means.
—(Great cheering.) This agitation would shortly be-
come unnecessary—(Hear)—but not until they should
have effected a reform in the House of Commons, which
had been attempted, but had been left undone.—(Hear,
near, and loud cheers.) For himself, he would not rest
satisfied till the Members of that House became what

they ought to be, according to the spirit of the constitu.
tion—(Loud cheers, and cries of "Bravo Briggs !")—the
Commons Houie of Parliament--the Representatives,
not of the aristocracy, which had a House of its own,
but of the middle and bumbler classes—the bulk of the
great mass of the people.—(Enthusiastic cheers, and
renewed cries of " Bravo I") To effect this, they should
have an extension of the suffrage—(Hear, hear, and
cheers)—and they should have the power of meeting
in the Registration Courts the 501. leasehold tenantry—
" the serfs of the landed aristocracy," who, as " tenants
at will," neve; ought to have had votes.—(Cheers, and
cries of "Hear and Bravo !") They should become a
sort of independent 40s .freeholders—(Cheers)—who, by
returning the friends of the people as the reprTentatives,
would lay the foundation for the complete abolition of all
monopolies, whether of corn, sugar, timber, or game;
—(Cheers)—and the gradual but certain introduction of
other laws, which might be deemed by the great body
of the people wholesome, and conducive to national
prosperity. (Great, and long-continued cheerimg,
amidst which the gallant General resumed his seat.)
Mr. MOORE, of the League, then rose, and having
addressed himself to the various evils with which the
corn-laws afflict the people, he expressed the gratifica-
tion which the country must now feel at the change
that has taken place in the minds of the working classes
on this question. The working men, he continued, were
not now disturbing the anti-corn-law meetings in the
manner they were wont to do ; and looking back to the
time when they were in such a habit, it was matter of
surprise that they could, at any time, have done so—
that they, for whose rights the League were standing
up, were the men who rose in public meetings against
the unjust corn-laws, and who moved " amendments "
to upset those meetings.—(Hear, hear.) They now
found out their mistake.—(Hear, hear.) They found
that " scarcity of food meant scarcity of wages"—
(Hear, hear)—and they were now uniting to assist the
League to get rid of the laws which intervene to create
that scarcity.—(Hear, hear, and applause.) Their Gal-
lant Chairman had told them that there had been a great
increase of 40s. freeholders throughout the country; and
it was more cheering still, that in South Lancashire, the
West Riding of Yorkshire, North Lancashire, and
North Cheshire, from one-sixth to one-fourth of those
increased votes were in the hands of working men.—
(Loud cheers and cries of "Bravo!")—men who pur-
chased their votes out of the savings from their hard-
earned wages—(Renewed cheers and cries of "Bravo!")
—men who had difficulties to meet in tr
the struggle to
get bread for their families.—(Hl. har and alause.)
They began to feel the importance of the subject and
the necessity of having in their hands the means of
protecting themselves and families, and of leaving a free
inheritance to their children of the rights which had
been too long kept from themselves.—(Cheers.) He (Mr.
Moore) could quote numerous instances of the employers
of those honest workicg men lending them 301. and 401.,
to assist them in making up the sum necessary to pur-
chase their freeholds.—(Applause.) It was most en-
couraging thus to see employers aiding their men to ob-
tain their political rights—(Hear)—and to reflect that
the assistance thus afforded was conferred upon men who
were not subject to those employers, and who could leave
them at any time, and go to any other employer.—
(Hear, and applause.) These were matters worth
congratulating the people upon ; and it was something
for the League to congratulate themselves upon, that
they had brought things to this cheering and promising
issue.—(Hear, hear.) The people, the Learned Gentle-
man continued, had come together now under the im-
pression that the time of sunshine and abundance was
gone by, and that the time was not very far off when the
pressure of wantwould come upon them ; for they were now
come together at a time when actual famine was threat-
the people
country a s at prehsaedn t
to ;
threat-
ening to fall upon the country.—(Hear, hear.) Mr.
Moore then impressed upon the meeting that in America
there
thew
qasuensetvioenthat never
so abundant
do with now was, " Was there corn anywhere that they
could get ?"—(Hear, hear, and great applause.) At the
port of Antwerp alone no less than 212 vessels laden
with corn had entered after that port had been h t rown
open for its free admission—(Hear)—and if the ports of
Britain were thrown open, he would put it to the meet-
ing, whether there would not come into them a far
greater number than 212 vessels ?—(Hear, hear, and ap-
plause.)
The Learned Gentleman then stated that a
great gathering of " Delegates" was about to assemble
in London, from all parts of the country, for the purpose
of representing to Sir Robert Peel the depressed state
of the national welfare, consequent upon the mischievous
effects of the corn-laws ; that the factories are now, in
many , instances, working " short time," and in many
others not working at all, the manufacturers (whose
warehouses are teeming with manufactured goods) not
being able to find markets for their stock on hand.—
(Hear, hear.) Mr. Moore then alluded to Sir R. Peel's
intimation that" the battle was to be fought in the Regis-
tration Courts;" and he (Mr. Al .) was proud to say that it
was being fought in those courts, and that the Right Hon.
Baronet's party were losine, in the struggle.—(Cheers,
and cries of " Hear.") He (Mr. Moore) called upon
the country to unite with the League, and to make one
grand push, which was all they wanted.—(Hear, and
cheers.) Their cause was just, and the injustice they
were now attacking had decay and rottenness within it
—(Hear and cheers)—and justice, sooner or later, in
this struggle must thrive.—(Cheers.) His earnest wish
was that the contest might soon come to an end.—
(Hear.) He felt they had worked long enough, and would
wish that they might rest from their labours, and say
" their work was done"—(Cheers)—and that God's
bounty to his people should not be interfered with ; and
if they were sure that the announcement in the Times
were true, " that Ministers were about to call Parlia-
ment together for the purpose 'of totally atid uneondition-

ally abolishing those unjust laws"—(Hear)—then the
country might believe that conversion was at last worked
r!!1-rs.-_(eheem) The Learned
Gentit-.luan then expressed a hope that this might be
their last meeting in that hall on the subject ; and said
he would merely hope in parting, that they would learn
from this struggle how to work in other great struggles,
that they might profit.—(Loud cries of " Bravo," and
enthusiastic applause, amidst which Mr. Moore resumed
his seat.) _ _

On the motion of Professor KEY, seconded by JAMES
BROTHERTON, Esq., the thanks of the meeting were
voted to General Briggs for his conduct in the chair ;
after which, and " three hearty cheers for the Gallant
General," Mr. Moore giving " the time," the meeting
separated.

REPEAL OF THE CORN-LAWS.
(FROM A CORRESPONDENT.)
On Saturday, a rw eting of the members of the East
3arrey Agricultural Association was held at the Grey-
hound, Croydon, for the purpose of receiving returns of
the crops of corn and potatoes from the different parishes
comprised within this division of the county of Surrey,
and also to take into consideration other matters con-
nected with the pres(nt position of the agricultural
interest.

J. W. Sutherland, Esq., the President of the Associa-
tion, took the chair ; E. Antrobus, Esq., M.P. for the
Eastern Division, was also preseut ; and there were be-
tween sixty and seventy of the principal farmers of the
district also present.
Mr. Joule DRUMMOND, the secretary, read the re
turns that had been sent in from twenty- five parishes,
in conformity with the requisition of the Association.
The general result appeared to be, that of wheat there
was an average crop, peas and barley, somewhat more
than an average, the other crops of corn deficient, and
potatoes had generally failed to the extent of nearly half
the crop.
Mr. SUTHERLAND, after the returns had been disposed
of, addressed the meeting briefly, and, after alluding to
the statement of its being the intention of the Govern-
ment to propose the immediate repeal of the present corn-
law, he said he did not believe that there was any such
intention entertained by the Ministry, and the report
had indeed been contradicted from an apparently official
source. Although, however, it might be true that there
was no immediate intention to alter the existing law, he
considered it very likely that some material alteration
might eventually be made, and he suggested whether it
would not be better for the agricultural interest to en-
deavour to propose some measure that would be likely
to effect a compromise, and thus avoid the extreme of
total repeal.
Mr. C. H. TURNER, of Rook's Nest, objected to any
such discussion being entered into. He said they were
not assembled to propose or suggest any modification of
the present corn•law, but to take the best measures to
secure the amount of protection that was at present
afforded to agriculture.
Mr. ANTROBUS addressed the meeting, and said that
he, like many others, no doubt, was very much astonished
at the statement as to the intentions of the Government
'eith regard to the corn-laws. He did not at the time
believe it to be true, and it was his opinion that the
Ministry had no such intention. He, and the majority
of the Conservative Members, had consented to a very
material modification of the old law, and they felt it
their duty to do so, when they considered the circum-
stances of the times, the depressed state of the manufac-
turing interest, and the necessity of doing something to
improve its condition. They had hoped this would have
a conciliating effect, and that th© sacrifices made by the
agricultural interest would have been considered suffi-
cient to prevent any public agitation. It did not appear,
however,:to have had this effect ; but he could only say
that they would be determined to oppose the Go-
vernment if any extreme measure were pro-
posed ; and he had no doubt that those Members
of the House of Commons who were more
especially interested in, and pledged to the support of
agriculture, would be found strong enough to prevent
the carrying of such a measure should it be proposed.
Some other speeches were made, and it was argued by
some of the speakers that there was very little ground
for the present excitement upon the subject of the scar
city of feed, for although the potato crop had failed, yet
the harvest of last year had been sufficient to supply the
population for thirteen months and a half, and therefore
there was quite sufficient of the present harvest to supply
them until the next harvest.

A resolution, embodying th;s opinion, and pledging
the meeting to support the existing corn-laws, and call-
ing upon their representatives in Parliament to assist in
carrying out the views of the Association, was then pro-
posed and carried, after which the meeting adjourned.

ANTI-CORN-LAW MEETING.
WOTTON- UNDER.. EDGE, DEC. 6.—A public meeting
was held here this afternoon in the National School-

room, for the purpose of receiving a deputation from the
Anti-Corn-law League, and hearing from them the pre-
sent condition and future prospect's of the movement.

There was a very numerous attendance. The room,
which is capable of accommodating nearly 2,000 persons,
was densely crowded in every part, and among those
present were many of the farmers of the surrounding
neighbourhood. At about three o'clock Earl Ducie,

who had been appointed to take the chair, entered the
room, accompanied by the Hon. F. A. Moreton, Mr.
Richard Cobden, M.P., Mr. John Bright, M.P., and

several of the leading residents of the (own and neigh-
bourhood, all of wham were received with reiterated
plaudits.
Earl DUCIE, in taking the chair, expressed the grati-
fication it afforded him to find that the anti-corn•law

movement was uniting under its banners men of every
political creed. Of the success of the cause, although
in attaining it they had to combat prejudices and inter-
ests, he had no doubt.—(Cheers) They should cast
. • . .

aside all minor differences and join hand and heart for
the promotion of-an object so closely connected with
the welfare of their country. They were told that
Sir Robert Peel was about to repeal the corn-laws,
and that Right Hon. Barohet had done so many extra-
ordinary things that he should not wonder at anything
he did; but, at the same time,' they must not depend
upon his doing so.—(Hear.) They should not forget
that Sir R. Peel had a good deal of the eel in him, and
was very slippery—(Laughter and applause)—and the
farmers would, he thought, find him to be an electrical
eel. There was no district in England which had suf-
fered more from the operation of the corn laws than
that in which they had met. If they looked at their
empty mills and their unemployed population, they
would see whether they ought to support those baneful
laws which were useful to no one but the large mono-
polist. He was glad to see so many farmers present, for
he was sure his friend Cobden would soon convince them
that they would suffer no injury from a repeal of the
corn-laws.—(Hear.) He (Lord Ducie) knew that a
great many of them believed, that if the corn-laws were
abolished, the country would be inundated with corn ;
but this idea was as ridiculous as the one which had pre-
vailed among the young servant-maids and apprentices,
who, having read the story of " Whittington and his
Cat," believed in their simplicity that the streets of
London were paved with gold. lie could assure his
brother farmers that they would have nothing to fear,
for he fully believed that, instead of reducing the home-
grown corn to the foreign standard, it would raise the
foreign standard to that of England.
Mr. COBDEN proceeded to address the meeting, and
was received with prolonged applause. He said, in pass •
ing through that beautiful district in the morning he
had seen what to him were the most convincing argu-
ments against the corn-laws, for everywhere he saw the
woollen-mills idle.— (Hear.) But why should the people
of Wotton-under-Edge be unemployed ? It might be
said that their trade had gone to other quarters—to
Yorkshire and the North of England. But was there
any reason why there should not be trade enough for
them all ? The district in which they were met pos •
sessed all the requisites of a busy manufacturing dis-
trict ; and if the corn-laws were repealed, there was no
reason why they
should not have as good a trade as
Yorkshire.—(Hear.) They could make as good cloths
as in Yorkshire, nay,
better ones, and the only reason
why people did not wear the best west of England broad
cloths was, that by the operation of the corn-laws they
were ground down into poverty.—(Hear.) What were the
fatal consequences of the decline of trade in that beau-
tiful district ? What did they see around them ?
Why, reduced wages, unemployed artisans, starving
children, pale and anxious mothers, half-fed cot-
tagers, ruin, misery, disaffection, crime, and despair.
—(Great cheering.) He would be bound to say
that there were labourers present, who, even when
fully employed, received 6s. per week.—(Cries of
" That's true.") Why, in the north they paid none less
than 14s. and 15s.—(Hear.) Was the state of decline
to which he had referred to continue? Would they lie
down under it.—(No, no.) Shame on them if they did.
(Cheers.) The men of Wotton-under-Edge must
arouse themselves to recover their trade; and who would
oppose them? Would the farmers ? Would not a
farmer rather have a farm in the neighbourhood of
Manchester, were everything flourished and advanced,
than in the nighbourhood of declining and decaying
\Nrottoni;e un unsudrerr-under—hy n(Haear, hear-) Would he not
rather employed
population than
by paupers? To be sure he would, for he could get
better prices for his commodities, and would be more
certain of receiving the money for what he had sold.—
(Cheers.) Well, then, would the landlords oppose them?
Certainly not, unless they were more blind than were
the moles and the bats. For was it not their paramount
interests to promote the welfare of the tenantry on their
estates? He would now address himself to the farmers
present,
some of whom, no doubt, considered that for
every quarter of corn brought from abroad they would
sell one quarter the less at home. That was the greatest
of all possible fallacies, because the direct influence of
a repeal of the corn-laws would be to immea-
surably increase trade. The people would then have
better wages, and the consequence would be that the
consumption of corn would be more than doubled, so
that all the corn which was grown at home, and all that
was brought from abroad would readily find customers
in the market ; but another delusion which was prac-
tised upon the farmer was, that England could not afford
to repeal the corn-laws because of the large amount of
taxes she paid, and that if she did so her peasantry would
Tdihdis not w
hrcountries
be reduced to serfdom, similar to Russia or Poland.
Polandcountr taxes were
no Rost e perfect
nonsense.
true,
we paid taxes, but
? He
thadhat
didtravelled
n o not.
much,..
Didpgnoivdetr?h neamynwedtnhi
s)ne.
,kni
to never
thatvgseee ret
as mimnee
dRt
mtstivosui
sethihhia
m orto
be the very essence of
any
taxes
as
possible out of
the people, and the Emperor of Russia followed the
general example. Why, if it were true that no taxes
were paid by the people of Russia, what a slur it would
be on the glorious Constitution of England ; for, if they
were the only people that paid taxes, and if the Empe-
ror of Russia and other foreign potentates governed
their nations, and kept themselves and their Govern-
ments without levying taxes, he should say it would be
a very good thing for England if it were under
• Russian government instead of its own.—(Cheers.)

Another thing that was said was that the farmers had
to pay highway rates. Well, but if they had had the
advantage of good roads, which was one of the greatest
blessings that could be rendered them—if they doubted
this, let them only convey their corn and their produce
to the market as they did in Spain—in sacks upon the
backs of their horses across their fields for a few days,
without using the roads, and he would undertake to say
that they would find out what an inestimable advantage
it was to have good roads. Then they talked of the
farmers paying the poor-rates ; but it they did, it was
the corn-laws that made the paupers. But foreigners
supported their poor as well as England, not, perhaps, in
such a systematic manner, but did they think that Eng-
land was the only place in the world that had any charity ?
Then it was said that they paid church-rates, and that
foreigners did not. This was another very great mis-
take, for let them go into any country which was Roman
Catholic, or where the Greek Church prevails, and
they would find that the priests there, as indeed every-
where else, got all they could out of the people, and that
in proportion as the people were well off or otherwise, so
were the:priests rich or otherwise. Then let not the farmer
be any longer cajoled by these stories. But then it was
said, what use would be the repeal of the corn-laws if
they were not as a consequence to have cheap bread ?
Why, who cared for the price of bread ; all that was
wanted was, that the people might have plenty of it.
Their object in arguing in favour of free trade was
not cheapness, but abundance, to extend their trade and
commerce, so that they did nut care what the price of
bread was as long as the people were so fully employed
as to have money in their pockets to buy plenty of it.
The difference of free trade and what was called protec-
tion was, that it would give them a happy, peaceable, and
contented, instead of a gloomy, miserable, and
discontented people. Well, but it was said that
these laws were to be repealed. The Government
was in a fix, and was it not strange that these
rotten potatoes should be of more force with them than
sound arguments ? But the Government were in a fix,
and it was said that Peel atd Wellington would abolish
these laws, and the protection gentlemen, who had all
along been telling them that they could not compete
with foreigners, would suddenly wheel round and tell
them the other story. Then, again, it was said that the
repeal would reduce the rents of farms ; he did not think
that it would, for they could not increase their farms
while the population was daily increasing. He hoped
each farmer who had heard his arguments would repeat
them to his friends, and if it should be productive of a
change in their feelings in favour of free trade, then his
mission would not have been in vain. Mr. Cobden then
alluded to the mode of extending the franchise and pur-
chasing freeholds for the county.
The meeting was also addressed by Mr. Austing, Mr.
Child, Mr. Bright, M.P., Mr. Bedy, &c., and the usual
resolutions having been carried by acclamation, the
meeting separated at half-past five o'clock. -

JERROLD'S SHILLING MAGAZINE.
Douglas Jerrold has now completed his second volume,
I and, seeing the success which has attendsd this maga-
zine, we are free to confess that there is more heart in
I the English reading public than, twelve months since,
we could have imagine d. Connected with no great po-
litical or religious party, in fact diametrically opposed
to all parties, religious and political, as mere parties—
Catholic in he true, not the sectarian sense of the word
—a social rather than a political or a religious reformer,
Douglas Jerrold took his stand as the great assertor of
the rights of human nature against all oligarchical usur-
pations, and he has maintained it nobly ; for twelve
months he has fought the good fight, and the
fact that his magazine is still alive and flourishing, and
likely to flourish, is a proof that there ure more honest
hearts in England than our party leaders wot of, aye,
and that those hearts are surmounted by shrewd heads,
containing sharp eyes, which see through the veil of
hypocrisy in which the soi-disant good people would fain
shroud themselves. Let the Cantwells of religion, of
politics, of literature, look to it—their occupation is well
nigh gone. The holes in their coats are all discovered,
the chiel has taken a note of them—
" And faith he'll prent it."
The present number commences with the 20th chapter
• of the " History of St. Giles and St. James." The scene
is laid in the borough of Liquorish during the election.
Young St. James, the aristocratical candidate, accom-
panied by Folder and Tangle, goes down to the
borough, on which occasion Dr. Gilead, the pluralist
rector, preaches a sermon, inculcating the duty of reve-
rence and obedience to superiors. Among the congre-
gation are Capstick and Bright Jem. The latter, as
they were walking through the church-yard, on their
return, observes :

" It was a nice sermon, wasn't it? Perhaps a little too
much o' putting people over people's heads; but still it was
comfortable ; though now and then to be sure, the doctor did,
as I think, take a little too much upon himself. How he did
give it to 'em who he said were out of the palings of the
church ! How he did dress 'em to be sure ! And how, upon
his own authority, he said they'd suffer."
" James," said Capstick—for so he dignified Jem when
wishing to be solemn—" James, do you recollect the words
And God said, Let us make man in our own image, after our
likeness?' "
" I should think I did," said Jem, unconsciously pulling
off his hat.
" Ha! that's beautiful and consoling, isn't it? And what
a fine creature is Man, so long as he always has these words
before his eyes, and so tries to do nothing but what shall be
some way worthy of his likeness! To do this, James, is to
make this world a pleasant place—and to have everybody
happy about us. And God said, Let us make man in our
image!' This is beautiful : but it's sad, it's melancholy
work, Jem, when man says, Let us make God in our
image "
" I beg your pardon," said Jem, " it's utterly unpossible.
'Tisn't to be done, no how."
Jem, it 'a been done for thousands of years; it 's being
clone every day." Jem stared. " Yes, Jem ; for when man,
in spiritual matters, persecutes man—when, in the name of
religion, and, as he says, vindicating God, he commits vio-
lence and cruelty upon his fellow-creatures, then does he, in
his own ignorance, make for a time his Maker after his own
erring and revengeful nature—then does he make God in his
own image ! Look at the burnings and roastings of poor
human flesh—its hangings and quarterings, its imprisonment
and exile in the name of religion. What are all these, but
that man does all this wickedness in the name of God; that
is, he thinks God is pleased with what pleases his own vile,
vindictive nature; and as I take it—and it can't be denied—
after such fashion it is, that man makes God after his own
image. Many folks—poor souls—think this the best re-
ligion. Jem, it's nothing more nor less than worst
blasphemy."
Folder and Tangle dine at the rectory, and both im-
bibe rather more than enough of the rector's port.
Tangle retires to his bed at the inn drunk, and young
Jingo, who, with Torn Blast, has followed St. Giles to
Liquorish, having concealed himself in Tangle's bed-
room, is on the point of getting possession of the key
which opens the closet, in which is contained the pre-
cious casket of treasure, destined by Tangle to pur-
chase the suffrages of the free and independent
electors of Liquorish, when the chapter closes.
" The Social Position and Character of the Bar" is the
title of the next paper, in which the arrogant lawyers
are brought down to their just level. It is a melancholy
fact, that the law is more frequently the " two-edged
sword of craft and oppression" than " the staff of
honesty, and the shield of innocence." Many are the
severe truths told in this paper, and the writer has not
overstated the evils which arise from the present posi-
tion of the law and lawyers. The remedy for this is a
grand reform and simplification of the law—the forma-
tion of a general code, as is the case in other countries.
This is opposed by the lawyers, who, like Alexander,
the coppersmith, raise the cry of " Great is Diana of
the Epliesians," because their craft is in danger ; but
they will eventually be compelled to give way, and we are
glad to see that Douglas Jerrold is breaking ground
against them. It is "the beginning of the end." W--
are glad to find our friend Juniper Hedgehog continuing
his letters this month. The subject of his lucubration is
the potato disease, which is considered by a certain
William Ferrie, who writes in the Edinburgh Witness, as
a judgment upon the nation for voting the tlaynooth
grant. Juniper Hedgehog attacketh this William
Ferrie, " who bawls and scribbles as it he were nothing
less than a livery servant to Providence, and knew all tilt-
-11( atsehold secrets," in regular cabman fashion,and masheth
him even as though he (Ferrie) were himself a potato.
The other articles are all good, not merely amusing, but
furnishing matter for thought. Jerrold's Magazine is a
book not merely " for a day, but for all time."