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
G overnment for the immediate admission of foreign grain
duty free.

On taking his seat, the CIIIIRMAN (Mr. Alderman
Haydock, in the absence of the Mayor), said—l regret
exceedingly the absence of the Mayor on this occasion,
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 f&lure
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.) ft 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 for 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 feel
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 fool 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 don't 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 truly 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 our object attained—(Cheers)—and as
I have taken a part in some of the first skirmishings, I
am willing to take a part now that the victory is at
hand.—(Applause.) Mr. Slate concluded by moving
the resolution.

Mr. J. HAWKINS, after giving an alarming account of
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 fur 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 does not upset the whole
of the Cabinet.—(Loud chss ring.) The present state
of things is intolerable ; (' 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. LIVESEY 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 people, to deprive them of the
ability of adding to the wealth, the strength, and the
importance 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•
tive scarcity, yet if all countries were free 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 overstocks 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 w ere no
other reason, this alone would account for the depression
now coming over our trade. Just contrast, 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 inthis
Apoor-
rates, or the complaints that were universal. 11
was caused by dear food. Then came a change; d uring
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—every cottage has been inhabited, and the
rents raised. So that nothing in the world is more ca-
caple of demonstration than this, that if the price of
fond be high, you have bad trade, poverty, misery, and
crime; but if cheap and plentiful, you have the reverse.
—(Loud cheers.) I move the resolution which has
been put into my hands. It is as follows:—." That the
following memorial be presented to Sir Robert Peel,
praying for immediate opening of the ports, by an Order
in Council, and for the immediate assembling of Parlia-
ment, and that he would recommend the Legislature to
pass a prompt measure for the untaxed admission of
all kinds of food." Now, can any man assign a sufficiet,
cause why any Government should pass a law to keep
other countries from sending us food, when we are will-
ing to buy it from them? The twofold effect of such a
wicked measure is, first, it raises the price f food; and,
secondly, it depresses the manufactures, because those
who bring us provisions are in general willing to take
our goods in return. The sliding-scale, of all measures,
is the most ridiculous and oppressive. The sliding-scale
is designed simply to keep out food and raise the prices,
in order that the rental of the landholder may be
maintained. That rental, I have no fear, would be main-
tained even if there were a total repeal of the corn-laws,
but on this principle, that to get more money out of the

land the landowner would have to improve it ; instead of
getting high rent for bad land, he would have to make
the land worth the rent. I have no apprehension what-
ever of a total repeal doing the slightest injury to agri-
culture. I don't think anybody believes it ; those who
make a noise about it don't, but they want to get a good
rental without improvements. It is now time for a
change ; I believe that a change is near at hand. There
never was so much changelwithin so short a time; and, if
we get free trade, whether from Whigs or Tories, every
industrial department of the country will thrive better ;
but the country does not deserve it unless it struggle for
it. I believe the thing will never be done effectually till
the people themselves set their shoulders to the work,
and hold something like another Birmingham meeting.
—(Hear, hear.) Then will the Government see that the
people are in earnest, and will no longer be taxed for
the support of the aristocracy.—(Cheers.)
Mr. JAMES FRANKLAND—I second this memorial to
Sir R. Peel with great pleasure ; for I would that he,
as head of the British Government, should make his ac-
tions consistent with his professions.—(Hear, hear.) I
would that gentlemen making professions of Christianity
should act a Christian part, and not withhold from the
poor man his bread.—(Cheers.) The day has gone by
when we would have gone begging cap in hand for this.
(Cheers.) I contend that it is our right and due—
(Cheers)—and no man, be his power whatit may, has
a right to intervene between God and his creatures,
and by prohibitory laws prevent them from enjoying
those blessings which, in his mercy, he has provided fur
their use. The farmers, for whose benefit we are told
this law was expressly framed, don't derive any benefit
from it. It has been the curse and bane of agriculture
as well as of manufactures. Oh that we had but an
election by ballot ! —then would the farmers let the
landlords know how much they value their protection.
I have conversed hours with many of them, and they
tell me that they know these laws to be injurious in
every sense of the word; " but," say they, " what can
we do ?" To what a state are they reduced when it has
come to this ! They are poor, dependent slaves
ef the aristocracy, and know that if they dare
to breathe a complaint, there is some one ready
to supplant them, and they ask, " What can we do ? '
The farmers are not benefited, and they know it ; the
manufacturers are not benefited, but crippled by it to a
serious extent ; the operatives -know they are not bens
fited, for I have felt the law an evil, and am sure that
when food rises in value every department of trade must
be seriously affected. The corn-law, in my opinion, is
injurious to every class ; it ought not to have had
existence at any time ; but, under the present circum-
stances, I conceive it ought not to disgrace the statute-
boek of any country. I beg to second the motion.
The CHAIRMAN then read the resolution and memo-
rial, the latter of which was as follows :

TO THE RIGHT HON. SIR ROBERT PEEL, BART., M.P., FIRST

LORD OF THE TREASURY.

The Memorial of the Merchants, Bmkers, Manufacturers,
Traders, and other inhabitants of the borough of Preston,
in public meeting assembled,
Showeth,—" That your memorialists feel convinced that
the alarm in Ireland, owing to the potato disease, the stagna-
tion of trade now felt in this district, and the fear of famine
generally entertained, have all been produced or greatly aug-
mented by our present corn-laws; that these laws have pre-
vented large quantities of grain being stored up in
.this
country; have induced other countries to manufacture in-
stead of extending the cultivation of their sails ; and, follow
ing upon a failing harvest, are sure to aggravate the suffer-
ings of the people, by making food scarce and dear.
" I our memorialists desire, therefore, to express, in the
strongest manner, their deliberate and confirmed opinion that
the circumstances of the country require that the ports should
forthwith be opened for the free admission of all kinds of
grain ; and, further, that her Majesty's Ministers will con-
sult the true interests of all classes in this kingdom by sub-
mitting to the Legislature, at the very earliest opportunity,
a measure for the entire removal of the corn-laws—the bane
of agriculture and the blight of commerce."
The motion was agreed to.
Mr. LIVESEY moved that the Chairman be requested
to subscribe the memorial for the meeting, and forward
it to Sir Robert Peel.

The Rev. Mr. EDWARDS seconded the motion, which
was agreed to.
Thanks having been voted to the Mayor for having
called the meeting, and to the Chairman for the very
satisfactory manner in which he had presided, the meet-
ing separated.

THE BANKING ALMANAC, DIRECTORY,

AND RANKER'S YEAR BOOK FOR 1846.
In addition to the Calendar, and the usual intelligence
contained ,in almanacs, this Directory contains a Digest
of Banking and Commercial Law ; a list of new rail-
ways passed during the session of 184 b, with estimates
of cost, the capital stock, the amount authorised to be
borrowed, and the length of each line ; a Banking Di-
rectory, of a comprehensive description, extending to 72
pages; a classification of the fundholders, savings' banks,
and a great variety of information connected with com-
mercial enterprise. It gives also lists of the Members
of the two Houses of Parliament, with their addresses ;
lists of London and provincial stockbrokers, and of Life
Assurance Offices, date of establishment, rates of pre-
mium, &c., and altogether will be found a most useful
book of reference to persons engaged in business.

THE WEST INDIA MAILS.—SOUTHAMPTON, THURS..
DAY EVENING.—The Medway has just arrived with the mails
from the West Indies, Her dates are Vera Cruz, Nov. 1 ;
the Havannah, 10th ; and Mexico, Oct. 30. She brings, on
merchants' account, 285,306 dols. ; on Mexican Government
account, 33,304 dols.; and 30 passengers.
OMNIBUS ACCIDENT.—On Thursday afternoon Mr.
Baker held an inquest at the Cumbeland's Head, City-road,
on the body of Hugh Hall, aged 50 years, a green-grocer of
Macclesfield street, who was knocked down on Monday, and
run over, by an omnibus in the New-road. All the witnesses
concurred that it was entirely an Accident, and exonerated
the driver from all blame. Verdict " Accidental death."

, FOREIGN WIIIAT.—We learn that the first cargo
of foreign wheat, forwarded from Liverpool, from the import
ship, under bond, has just ben warehoused in the bonded
warehouses, Salford, an account of Messrs. Buckley and New-
ton. of Stalybvide.—.Mcrachester Guardian.

LITERARY LITIGATION.—A trial will take place in
the Court of Exchequer, either in the present or the early
part of the ensuing term, which will excite some interest in
the literary world. It is an action brought by Trinity Col-
lege, Cambridge, against the trustees of the British Museum,
for their possession of a manuscript alleged to have been
stolen from the library of the former. The manuscript has
been intermediately in the possession of Mr. J. 0. llalliwell,
F.R.S, whose suspension from the privileges of the library of
the Museum has recently caused a painful interest in literary
circles.

A CIIILD BITTEN BY A RAT.—On Thursday
morning, about twelve o'clock, a most serious accident
occurred to Ann Drew, about three years of age, the
daughter of a charwoman, living at Kennet. street, Penton•
ville. The poor woman had only left the infant, who was ill
in bed with the hooping-cough, a few minutes, when its
screams attracted the attention of a female in the adjoining
room, who, on entering the apartment, discovered the ehild's
face frightfully mangled, its nose being nearly bitten off.
The woman upon opening the room-door saw the rat escape
from the bed, but she was too much frightened to attempt
its capture.
• MONEY MARKET AND CITY NEWS.—The stock
markets were unsettled again to-day by a statement con-
tained in one of the journals respecting the corn-laws. Ac-
cording to this authority, the Duke of Wellington and Sir
Robert Peel have at last yielded to the agitation of the
League, and Parliament will be called together early in the
year to give its sanction to their repeal. An announcement
of this nature could not buticreate a sensation in the moneyed
circles, but siill the variations in prices were not such as to
show that it was fully credited. Consols declined somewhat
less than lj per cent., and other securities in about the usual
proportion, but, strange as it may appear, there was no
decline in the price of bonded flour. Good American quali-
ties were to be had as cheap to-day as they could have been
yesterday, or any previous day in the week. The price of
flour in bond was 31s. per barrel of 1981b5., but the current
value, duty free, is 395. per barrel. It may be assumed,
therefore, that either the statement referred to, although
made with little or no reservation, is disbelieved by the mer-
chants and factors, or a doubt is entertained of Parliament
giving its consent to a change of such vital importance as an
abolition of the protective principle connected with land.
Had full faith been given to the announcement in question,
Consols must have been more affected than they have been,
and that flour in bond would have been perfectly stationary
at the previous value is improbable. The Bank made no
further change in their rate of interest, but the floating
securities seem:to be still gradually on the decline, and may
possibly be seen before long standing-at a discount.—Pose
DEAL.—An occurrence of a very distressing nature
took place here a few days ago. The infant son of Mr. Pain,
baker, an interesting child, of three year of age, tempted by
the contents of a box of colours, abstracted unobserved a green
paint, and swallowed it. The discoloured state of the bed
indicated the nature of the mischief, and though some portion
of the poison had been dislodged, medical assistance arrived
too late to be of service. The child died shortly after the
discovery.—Kent Herald.
AUDACIOUS AND SYSTEMATIC HOUSE ROBBERIES.
—Since last Monday, the neighbourhood of St. John-street,
Clerkenwell, has been thrown into a state of great alarm, in
consequence of the following daring robberies :—Adjoining
the house of Mr. Walker, surgeon, John-street, is a court,
whence it is supposed that the burglars climed over
a shed, and thus effected an entrance through his
stair-case window into his bedroom, where he and
Mrs. Walker were sleeping. Being in want of lights they
drew up the blind, and pinned it. They then took a gold
watch from the pocket in the curtains, a gold brooch
from the drawers, and likewise emptied Mr. Walker's
trouser's pocket of their contents; after which they went
down stairs, ate a quartern loaf and a pot of jelly. They
then proceeded to an adjoining house, and entered a room
where a man aatnnhdde ftookuoikrtecohhueintld,nrfenits
where• ec lr e. sleeping, broke open a
they i° s;
drank They
spirits afterwardsa n and
s(Nlne.rsioetkehne'gdd-ecddiesgaktro's, which they found there. After that they
entered the two adjoining houses, the beds of which they
ransacked, although several parties were sleeping in them.
Strange to,
they nevertosay, although
tugoluic bvaluableedit, plate was exposed to de-
predation,lest, it is supposed, that the
marks upon it should lead to their detection. The whole of
these robberies were perpetrated in an hour, and were not
discovered until the servants arose at the usual hour in the
morning. Mr. \\Talker has offered 1001. for any information
that will lead to the arrest of the burglars.
BARBAROUS MURDER.—On Sunday evening a
Iman named James Costelloe, a tenant of Burton Persse, Esq..
of Moyada Castle, county Galway, and who acted as rent •
warner, was murdered on the townland of Killeshulan, near
Freshford. The unfortunate man was seated at supper
with the members of his family, and was shot through the
window by some unknown assassin, who took deadly aim
from the outside. The ball passed through the
neck, and killed him on the spot. The deceased
was a witness most instrumental in the prosecution
uvkd-hgiech deathcireum to-
as
tnadn cec o 'Oiucltdionbeofof tihtseelfnostuorhocuiesntTrtaocyas,d
him by the Rockite code ; but we understand that he
was also lately concerned in driving stock distrained for
rent on a neighbouring farm. It is a curious circumstance
that a gentleman a few days since informed us that he ob-
servedwho was implicated in the murders
o f
lorttihmeerruaffindanll Daly,o3m and gained his freedom by becoming
an approver, lurking in the neighbourhood of Freshford,
and remarked at the time, "We shall soon hear of another
assassination in this: part of the country"—a prophetic ob-
servation whioh has been too well and speedily realised. An
inquest was held on Monday, and after the examination of
witnesses, the jury returned a verdict of " Wilful murder
against some person or persons unknown."—Kilkenny Mode-
rator.