The Sun.
London, England, 1842-12-22 00:00:00

THEATRE ROYAL, COVENT-GARDEN.
THIS EVENING, DEC. 22,

Will be repeated the English Version of Rossini's Grand
Opera of SEMIRAMIDE.—The Character of Semiramide
by Miss Adelaide Kemblo; Arsace, Mrs. Alfred Shaw (from
the prin,eipal Theatres in Italy) ; Assur, Mr. Giubilei ; Oroe,
Mr. Leffler ; Idreno, Mr. Travers ; Shade of Ninus, Mr. J.
Bland. _ _

After which THE TURF. Captain Flatooker, Mr.
ter Lacy; Clovis s. Culpepper, Mr. Bartley ; Gallop,
Mr. Meadows ; Aaron Tret, Mr. Harley ; Mrt. Culpepper,
Mrs. Mumby ; Miss Warren, Miss Lee.
Doors open at Half-past Six, and the Performances com-
mence- at Seven.—Dress Boxes 75., Second Price 3s. ad. ;
First and Second Circles 55., Second Price 2s. 6d. ; Pit 3s;
Beamed Prise 2s. ; Gallery Is.
Tick and Places for the Boxes tg_be taken of Mr. Whit-
low, at the Box-lace, from Ten VI Four, where Season
Tickets may be had.
Privabe Boxes to be had at the Box-office ' • of Messrs. An-
/sews, 167, New Bond-street ; Mr. Mitchell, Old Bond-street ;
mut of Mr. Same, Pall Mall.

THEATRE ROYAL, HAY-MARKET.
THIS EVENING, DEC. 22,
Will be performed Congreve's Comedy of THE WAY OF
THE WORLD (Adapted for Representation). Period, 1699.
Sir Wilfull Witwoud, Mr. W. Farren ; Fainall, Mr. Vining;
311arwond, Mr. Stuart ; Wilwoud, Mr. Charles Mathews;
I%,..tulant, Mr. Buckstone; Waitwell, Mr. Strickland; Mil-
lamait, Madame Yestris; Lady Wishfort, Mrs. Glover.
After which, a new Drama, called THE BASTILE. Louis
Quarlarzo, Mr. H. Holl; Fricandeau, Mr. Webster ; the
Duchess de bloniibazon, Miss Charles; Ninon Labatte, Ma-
dame Celeste.
To be fußowed by Mr. C. Mathews' Burletta of PATTER
rorstts CLATTER. Captain utter, Mr. Charles Mathews.
To conclude with Mr. Buckstone's original Farce of THE
IRISH LION.

THEATRE ROYAL, ADELPHI.
THIS EVENING, DEC. 22,
Will be repeated the new Burletta, entitled THE MER-
CHANT AND HIS CLERKS. The principal characters
by liilessrs. Lyon, 0. Smith, Paul Bedford. Wright, Maynard,
Wielaud,,klliss Chaplin, Miss Urooks, and Mrs. P. Grattan.
After Which a New Drama, in Two Acts, called YOU
KNOW WHAT. The principal Characters by Mr. 0. Smith,
Mr. Wright, Mr. Maynard, and Miss Faucit.
To be followed by a Grand Burletta Spectacle, entitled
LLMA. Principal Characters by Messrs. Paul Bedford,
Wieland, Frampton, Mrs. H. P. Grattan, and Madame Proche
Globilei.
To conclude with NORMA. Pollio, Mrs. H. P. Grattan ;
Norma, Mr. Paul Bedford ; Adalgisa, Mr. Wright.
Boxes, 4s. ; Pit, 2e. ; Gallery, Is. Doors open at half-past
sir, commence at seven o'clock.

HIGH WATER AT LONDON BRIDGE THIS DAY.
441 wiling 45 minutes after 4 I Evening 9 minutes after 5

LONDON
THURSDAY MORNING. DECEMBER 22, 1842.

It is said that the Royal Agricultural Society
has employed persons to watch the meetings of
the League, and report accurately all statements
which may be thought to affect the agricultural
interest. It is further said, that the various
statemenwts there made, the obvious condition of
the pate mind, and the increasing repugnance
which is shown to the principle of protection,
have wrought a general conversion amongst the
farmers' friends. We see proofs of this great
change in their speeches at agricultural meet-
114s. It is further rumoured, though we do not
guarantee the authenticity of the rumour, and
quite agree with a Contemporary, that whatever
may be the presumed change of opinion in the
landlords, the best exertions of the League and
the bread-nu:Q.4 people will still be required; but
it is rumoured Okat some leading member of the
agricultural interest—Mr. PUSEY, it is surmised
—will, on the fitst day" the Ftoiiament meets,
give notice of his intention to move for a Com-
mittee on an early day on the Corn-laws, with a
view to their total and immediate repeal. Such
a rumour, even if well-founded, ought not, we
repeat, to relax the exertions of the League, to
which the alteration of the opinion of the farmers'
friends is owing, till the Repeal Bill has received
the Royal assent; but we also repeat that we' can-
not and do not guarantee the authenticity of the
rumour, though the. bare possibility of such a
• course. of conduct has suggested to us several
arguments in its favour.
Our known opinion on the utility of totally
and immediately repealing the Corn-law renders
it unnecessary to say a word on that point; our
remarks will be confined to consider the immense
advantages which would ensue to the landlords
themselves from proposing and carrying that
repeal- into effect, To the honest manufacturer,
to the trader, to the labourer, it is of no conse-
quence whatever who puts an end to the law ;
but to the landlords and to the Government it
is of almost infinite importance whether the law
be abolished by a voluntary movement of the
landlords, or be forced on the Legislature by a
society banded together—aye, and honestly and
rightfully banded together—to put down the
unrighteous laws. Who will answer for the pur-
poses to which such an organisation as that of
the League, stamped with eminent success,
which will be sure to raise pp leaders with great
ulterior objects in view, may be applied? Allow
it to be the means of carrying-the repeal of the
corn-law, as it undoubtedly will, should the
l idtords not now gracefully and yoluinarily
ik

\

(rive the law up, and most likely it will become I
the means, in the hands of some dangerous men,
of attempting a great revolution. Tiu.:,re are l
abundant materials in the community, properL,
piled together and kindled, to produce a devouring
conflagration. Then there will be no question
.whether the landlords shall divide amongst
them a few paltry millions a year, more or less,
having, at the same time, to pay great additional
charges on account of pauperism and crime ;
but the question will be, whether they shall-
have any property at all, and whether their
lives can be protected. A law which directs the
hunger of the populace against the State is at all
times pregnant with danger ; and much it be-
hoves those who chiefly profit by our political
arrangements, to put an end to such a law. For
the safety of the State, with which the welfare
of the landlords is closely connected, they should
take the lead in abolishing their own enactment.
At present they are as much abused as any
class of men that ever existed, and because they
are palpably in the wrong they ;are obliged pa-
tiently to bear with what is said against their
political conduct. For the sake of a few paltry
millions a year distributed amongst them,
they are becoming discredited with the
community, and losing their hold of the
public respect, which is the basis of all
political power. All the censure and vituperation
now daily heaped on them they may at once
stifle for ever,—all that discredit they May in-
stantly cast off, and regain the esteem of all ho-
nest men, comprising the bulk of the nation, by
gracefully acting as the rumour states they in-
tend to act. All the attacks made on them last
session, which, going forth from the Houses of
Parliament unanswered and unrefuted, had a
powerful effect on the public mind, will be re-
newed next session, enforced by many additional
facts, many additional arguments, and much con-
demnation of their own principles by the
GoRINGS, DICKINSONS, and other members of
their own party. Such attacks, repeated session
after session, will destroy their character, and
their political power will disappear. They will,
in the end, after suffering in public opinion, have
their so-called protection snatched from them,
while they can only be impoverished and de-
graded by continuing laws which injure them
and the community at large. The further loss of
character, and further loss of power, with which
they are threatened, will be at once arrested by
Mr. PUSEY, or some other leading farmers' friend,
proposing the repeal, and at once they will ac-
quire the renewed respect and the confidence of
the public. The tongues of their enemies will be
immediately tied. Those who assemble toblanie
will be loud in their praise. The torrent that
might wash them away will but clear out the
channels of public prosperity, and fix the struc-
ture of their greatness on a surer basis. The
wonderful change that would take place in the
public sentiments by the landlords pursuing the
graceful and generous course which the rumour
indicates, would require several columns to de-
scribe, and we content ourselves with merely al-
luding to the suppression at once, and for ever,
of all discussion in Parliament, and out of Parlia-
ment, on this question, and to the sudden con-
version of the loud and deep curses of the nation
into warm and heart-cheering applause. _ _ _

If they take this lead they may be entitled to
say to the public, " the law was the act of your
organised and recognised authorities, and the
whole nation is responsible for its consequences.
Do not, therefore, make us suffer exclusively by
the change. Give us compensation for all the
damage that may accrue to us from the repeal,
Stand betwixt us and our creditors, should the
value of our properties fall, and we be unable to
meet our engagements." But by alone resisting,
the change, they make the law exclusively their
own. They might now have a capitulation; but
if they force the rest of the community to storm
their stronghold, they will then be entirely at
the mercy of the conqueror. tet them take the
lead in proposing the abolition of all Corn-laws,
and they may almost dictate the terms of the
compensation.
_ _ _

Another consideration is, that our whole sys-
tem of criminal jurisprudence-, that many of
the laws concerning property, particularly the
laws concerning the tenure of land in Ireland,
the laws concerning the currency and banking,
the election laws, including the whole system of
registration,—that the fiscal system of the country
and the exteniion or reformation of the Church,
urgently demand the attention of the Legislature.
But as long as this bread question is a subject
of agitation—the subsistence of the community
is of such primary importanc4, that it must and
will absorb every other. Till that be put at rest
it will be impossible either for the public or the
Parliament to attend to any other great question;
and as it can in no way be so certainly and wisely
settled as by the landlords taking the lead in
abolishing the law, we are not surprised that men
should say that they mean to adopt that course.

We are almost ashamed to support views that
concern the whole empire by mere party consi-
derations ; but at present there is a great proba-
bility that this will be made a party question, and
then it might be fatal to the Administration.
Were the landlordsto take the lead,andpropose the
abolition of the law, it would be instantly stripped
of all party character. Mr. PUSEY would at once
annihilate Mr. VILLIERS as a Repealer. There
would be nothing for the Whigs to glorify them-
selves about, and nothing for the Tories to' be
'ashamed of. Sir ROBERT PEEL would be in-
stantly relieved from all his present embarrass-
ments on this question; the mere contests of
political parties in a fair and open field might be
renewed ; and he, as the cleverest administrator,
as the most influential man in the House of Com-
mons, might possibly remain Prime Minister for
a quarter of a century. As a party move, we can
conceive nothing so extremely advantageous to
Sir R. PEEL and the Conservatives generally, as fir
Mr. PUSEY to give the notice we have alluded to on
the very first night of the session. The union be-
twixt the Premier and the landowners would be as
surelya e aristocracy
raase
ythe n
d reconciliation
ti the
of
the between
andeeedrnae
peo-
ple. Puttingparty considerations, however, out of
view, and looking only at the character and poli-
tical power of the landowners; Woking at what
they will
suffer by allowing the a •
gitation of
this question to be continued—and only by the
abolition of the law can it be put an end to ; and
looking at what they
will gain in reputation
by
proposing a repeal o.
f all the Corn and Provision-
laws, which are intended to promote their advan-
tage, without effecting any such object, we are
decidedly and clearly of opinion that they could
adopt no more manly nor wiser course than that
indicated by the rumour which has given rise to
our reflections.

We called attention on Tuesday to the connec-
tion which exists between agrarian outrages in
Ireland and the want of employment in Eng-
land. We pointed out that so long as there was
an active demand in Scotland and-England for
large bodies of emigrants from Ireland, the
competition for land there was diminished, and
outrages decreased. That circumstance affordi
the explanation, we believe, of the diminution
of those outrages during a portion of the time
the Whigs were in office, and not any great dif-
ference between their mode of administering
the Government of Ireland, and that of
the Tories. The country Magistracy was much
the same under both Administrations; the
laws were the same ; the protection given to land-
lords, and to the people, was about the same;
the police was the same; the tenure of land was
the same ; and, therefore, we ascribe the compa-
rative freedom from agrarian outrages, which took
place between 1836 and J 840,, tothebrisk demand
during the greater portion of that period for la-
tom. in England and Scotland. It is of some
importance to repeat this view, because politi-
cians will not sufficiently consider the natural
circumstances which determine the welfare of so-
ciety, and look chiefly to the statute-book and
to parties to explain its varying condition. It is
of especial importance, in regard to the present
for a number of Irish noblemen
preparing, wording to theDub-
astadateof
gentlemen Ireland;ar e
all rther
lin
.B'oolo9 Mail, to combine in London in
order to resist Arelaxation of our rgr
strictive laws on t A f1,x934.4 they be success-

ful, the..- will narrow the drain which a
trade hi England opens to carry off their surpitr
population, er it a1t0,.-Tther, and Anultiply
outrages, by ineica,,big Coe euinpetition for land,
in their own country. .

We offer no defence for the conduct of Irish
landlords; we do not dream of vindicating the
law relative to the tenure of land in Ireland as
it stands; but neither the law nor the landlords
could be so prejudicial to the welfare of the
Irish as at present, had the people other means to
subsist than that of cultivating the soil. Compared
to an easy means of gaining a living on one
hand, and a keen competition amongst hungry
cotters for every fragment of an acre on the
other, the influence of all laws and of all insti-
tutions, of whatever nature, over the welfare of
society, must be trifling. To make men in
opulent and easy circumstances rioters and
murderers, would he a most difficult task ; but
not so difficult as to make men who are a prey
to hunger and wretchedness peaceable and
orderly. In Ireland profitable employment for
the people is wanted. There seems at present
not much prospect of establishing manufactures
on an extensive scale in that country. A de-.
ficiency of coal, and a deficiency of a population
educated to the work—for the manufacturing
population of England, its hosts of millwrights
carpenters, smiths, and engineers, did not grow
up in a day—will for some time prevent Ireland
being the seat of extensive manufactures. But
the readiest way to promote that, is to draw
off as much as possible of its surplus popu-
lation into the manufacturing districts of Eng-
land, which will gradually extend peaceful habits
and produce security in Ireland. As its popula-
tion get partly taught in England, some of them
will return, and, aided by the English and
Scotch, manufactures may gradually grow up
there. According to this view, it is for the in-
terest of the Irish landlords to promote the ex-
tension of nanufactures and trade in England,
and they can do themselves and their country no
greater injury, than by opposing measures which
would set the mills of England in full work, and
give freights to every one of her ships.

How TO MAKE THE PEOPLE VIRTUOUS.—The
Times yesterday took a perfectly original view
on the subject of the Corn-laws. The advocates
of those laws contend that without them our
agriculturists cannot compete with foreigners; to
which it is replied, you may compete with them
by improving cultivation, granting leases, and
making the land produce more. Whereupon our
astute Contemporary sets forth that the landlord
has something else to do with his land besides
making the most of it. He is not to grant leases
lest he might lose " his guiding influence over the
social conduct of those who people his estate."
He is " determined that on his land certain bene-
ficial lines of conduct shall be pursued, that
public morality shall never be outraged, (nor)
mad speculations repeatedly entered on." Our
Contemporary wholly forgets that the whole
question of protection turns on land producing
wealth ; but under the influence of his new
theory, he sneers at those who so regard
it, and sets up the landlords as requir-
ing protection to preserve the morality of
the people on their estates, and make them
happy. Though we do not see how the repeal
of the Corn-laws would interfere with the ma-
nagement of their property, it is something
like a mockery of the public forbearance towards
continued inconsistencies, while our ears are yet
ringing with our Contemporary's remarks on our
Hertfords, Huntingtowers, and Chesterfields, to
have it gravely insinuated that the people are to
be taxed or starved to enable such mirrors of
chivalry to keep them in order. The whole idea
of the Times is founded on the ancient relation
of serfship, and regards the landowners as the
masters of the people. Other men will not now
recognise their dominion, and the attempt to
restore it must be fatal to themselves.

NOVEL WAY TO OBTAIN A CHRISTMAS DINNER.—
How to obtain a dinner on Christmas day has often
puzzled a great many ; but for the last two years the
following novel plan has been adopted by many
licensed victuallers of this metropolis, so that their
customers shall have a dinner on Christmas-day, with
something to wash it down :—About three or four
months before Christmas a society is formed, under
the somewhat peculiar name of the " Goose Club,"
the members of which are called on to pay 6d. per
week. About three days before Christmas-day the
" drawing for the geese takes place, the holder of
No. 1 having first choice, and so on in rotation. Every
member is entitled to a goose and a bottle of spirits.
The number of geese consumed in this manner cannot
be estimated ; but at one house in Somers-town no
fewer than 140 geese are ordered, each of them to
weigh 10Ibs.
THE DUTCtI, AND PRACTICAL HYDRAULICS.—In
noticing various hydraulic devices, I have endea-
voured to award honour to whomsoever it was due ;
to say nothing of the ancients, with whom most of
them originated, it may here be observed that the
Germans were the earliest cultivators ef prac-
tical hydraulics in modern times. The Dutch
(part of that people) contributed to extend
a knowledge of their inventions. It was a
Dutchman who constructed the famous ma-
chinery at Marli ; and England was indebted to
another for her first water-works at London-bridge.
The simplest pump-box or piston known--the inverted
cone of leather—is of German origin, and so is the tube
pump of Muschenbrock. Hose for fire engines, both
of leather and canvass, was invented by Dutchmen.
They carried the chain pump of China to their settle-
ments in India, and also to Europe. Van Braam
brought it to the United States. A German invented
the air-pump ; and the first high pressure steam-en-
gine figured in books was by another. As regards
hydraulic machinery, the Dutch have been to the
moderns in some degree what the Egyptians were
to the ancients—their teachers. The physical geo-
graphy of Holland and Egypt necessarily led the in-
habitants of both countries to cultivate to the utmost
extent the art of raising water. Windmills for
draining water off land, first occur (in modern days)
in Holland. It is, indeed, the constant employment
of this element—wind—that preserves the Dutch
from destruction by another ; for, as a nation, they
are in much the same predicament they formerly put
unruly felons in—viz. confining each in a close vault
with a pump, and then admitting a stream of water,
that required his unceasing efforts to pump out, to
prevent himself from drowning.—Ewbank' s Hydraulic
Machinery.

PROVISIONS AND TRADE.—The 41b. loaf has been
selling in our town, for upwards of a fortnight, at
6d. £his, together with oatmeal at Bd. and 9d. per
peck, potatoes 3d., butcher meat from id. to 2d. h
pound cheaper than it was last year at this time, must
add largely to the comfort of the working man and
his family ; and when it is added that fresh herrings
were sold last week at lid. the dozen, we may safely
say that 10s. will go further this winter in the pur-
chase of the necessaries of life, than 13s. did last
winter. But we have still the sad truth to state, that
all this, and much more, is needed ; for, bad as last,
winter was, the present is worse for the manufacturing
and working classes in general. Within the last week
or two, the woollen manufacture has become duller
than ever, and the most active manufacturers are
working short time—that is, only during daylight,
which is short enough at present. Prices have again
declined.—Stirling Observer.
EDUCATIONgh IN G
tes inspectionFßs fx
.—ot s t
hteo
working
n g religiousof
the
alarms,
German schools in this respectwould satisfy the
most scrupulous. Nothing is so simple and so satis-
factory. The ordinary teachers do not meddle with
religion ; this is taught to the children by their OW n
minister on days set apart. All goes on smoothly as
a locomotive on a good railway, in which nobody
troubles himself about proselyting his neighbour.
Here are no fears, no jealousies, no proselyting, nor
growth of any particular evil, except what some of
our countrymen consider the greatest--general
education. As to spoiling the working classes, how-
ever, or filling their heads with any idea of leaping
out of their own class and proper pursuits, this is
just the point on which such timorous persons would
be the most astonished. In fact, the general results
of universal education, beyond the promotion of uni-
versal order, are very different to what we would
cyriori have imagined.—Howites Rural and Domestic
Lift qf Germany.
RAILWAY COMMUNICATION TIIROUGII NORTII
WALES BETWEEN LONDON AND DUBLIN.-011 St.-
turday a, deputation, consisting of the Right Hon. the
Lord Mayor, Sir Edward -Borough, Bart. (High
Sheriff), Sir J. Burke, Bart, Sir J. Kingston James,
Bart., and Messra. Frederick Ponsonby, Edw. Grogan,
M.P., Pim, Perry, Haliday, ke,, waited upon
his Excellency the Lord Lieutenant, for the purposti
of conveying to him the resolutions adopted at a public
meeting of the citizens Of Doblin, which was held a
fihort time since, and of calling, hisxvellency's at-
tent,OP tthe vast importance, In
E
n all points o view,
of this great H*9l* object; and upon the considera-
tion of which; a' 501e...4'094.040p of the House of
commons had been for some months engaged dging
the Own() pf the session. His Excellency received
the deputation in the post affable and gracious man-
ner, entered into the merits of the proposed communi-
otion with great and lively interest, and expressed
his readings!, 137 all the means in his power, to for-
ward so important 40 tritiy national an object.
There will be no businesis Uati4aPtP4 in the Liver-
pg,9l.l market on Monday' next,--Aranohester
Guar lan,

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