The Sun.
London, England, 1842-03-02 00:00:00

LAW OF EVIDENCE.

Mr. C. BULLER stated that he should not proceed with the
Bill of which he had given notice respecting the law of evidence.
Motion accordingly withdrawn.

NAVIGATION OF THE NILE.

Dr. BOWRING postponed his motion for Copies or Extracts of
any Correspondence which has taken place at the Foreign Office,
on the subject ot a claim put forward by the British Consul at
fot the right to navigate the ifiternal waters of Egypt
under the British Flag, till this day heck.

The Bui!dings Regulation Bill (No. 2), and the Boroughs Im.
provament Bill (No. 2), were each read a second time, and ordered
to be committed.

MARRIAGES (IRELAND) BILL.
The Report on this Bill was brought up.
CORN IMPORTATION ACT.

The bringing up of this 8111 was fixed for this evening.
'file Apprentices Regulation Bill was read a third time and
passed.
Thu House then adjourned at One o'Clocks

We learn from Bologna that such a quantity of
scow has fallen in the country around that all communications
are stopped, and the town has been completely isolated. lo the
Romagna the cold has been severer than in 1829, and has de-
stroyed a great number of trees.
The Hello de Tarn et Garonne of the 18th inst.
says :—" Our editor yesterday received a citation from the
Procureur du Roi at Montauban, to appear before the Cor-
rectional Chamber of that Tribunal on the 2tith, for having re-
produced, in our number of the 9th inst., an advertisement of
the Mode, of the sale of the report of the trial to which it has
lately been subjected."
We learn from Nimes that a few days ago a colli-
sion occurred on the railroad at the St. Hilaire station, between
two waggon trains ' • one coming from La Grande,Combe, laden
with fire-wood, and the other going from Nimes. T,hree .f
the waggons were crushed, but the engines sustained latl,
damage. - The engineers and stokers escaped unhurt.

CORN-LA WS.
BOROUGH OF LAMBETH:

Yesterday evening a numerous and most respectable meeting
of the inhabitants of the borough of Lambeth, was held at the
Horns Tavern, Kennington-common, for the purpose of con-
sidering the present alarming state of the country and the un-
principled conduct of her Majesty's Ministers in opposing the
just demands of the people for the repeal of the Corn-laws.
Mr. CASH (a Member of the Society of Friends) took the
Chair at six o'clock, amidst loud acclamations, and sa d that
although there might be some points submitted to the meeting
this evening, upon which he had not made up his mind, and
some opinions propounded from which he dissented, yet he felt
bound to obey the unanimous call of the meeting, and he
trusted he would receive its support in his endeavours to fulfill
his duties as Chairman.
Mr. RICHARCSON rose to propose the first resolution, as fol-
lows: —" That this meeting has seen with indignation the proposi-
tion of her Majesty's Ministers, for an alteration in the Corn-
laws, by which all the evils of the old system are perpetuated,
whilst the prayer of the multitudes for cheap bread has been
e
scornfully rejected. '1 hat this meeting is of opinion that the
total repeal of the Corn-laws is called for by every feelingof
.
religion, justice, and humanity, and will never rest satisfied
until every vestige of the present iniquitous laws are swept
away. 'I hat having no confidence in the Government, or the
House of Commons, as at present constituted, and desiring
not only the repeal of bad laws at present existing, but also
feeling
convinced guarantee for good Government for the future, and
convinced that no efficient remedies will be applied without a
full, fair, and free representation of the people ; this meeting is
of opinion that the elective franchise ought to be forthwith
extended to every man arrived at the age of twenty-one years,
of sane mind and unconvicted of crime, together with the Vote
by Ballot, and such other matters of detail, as may be found
necessary to the honest and practical working of the system."
Experience had taught him that but little hope could be en-
tertained of au amelioration in the condition of the people
from the House of Commons, as it was at present consti-
toted ; and therefore he was a strenuous advocate for Univer-
sal Suffrage and Vote by Ballot. The meeting was called
for the purpose of denouncing the measure proposed by Sir
Robert Peel, and to memorialise her Majesty to dismiss her
present Ministers, for, so long as they remained in power, there
was no hope that the condition of the people would be bettered.
If he had no hopes of the eveatual repeal of the Corn-laws, he
would have left this country long since, for he was sine that,
between their operation and the taxation now pressing upon
the people, this great country would, ere long, become an in-
significant island, dependent upon some neighbouring
Power ; because he was sure, if the Devil were to devise a
scheme to effect the ruin of the commerce of this country, he could
not hit upon a better one than the system of taxation
and class legislation adopted in this country. It had been
stated that it was impossible for the landed interest of this
country to compete with that of Denmark, because the tax
imposed upon the land there was much less than what it was
here. This was a most Jesuitical and Peel-like argument, for
the wealth of the landlords of this country exceeded that of
Denmark, or of any other • nation in the world. The Whigs
and the Tories knew full well the advantages of free trade,
but, influenced by self interest, they held out against it as long
as they could. As he said before, he knew well they had no
hope from the Legislature as at present constituted, and he was
sure there-was not the slightest use in petitioning against it, or
in passing resolutions, without they united hear and hand with
the working classes.—( Hear, hear, and cheers.) If the middle
and the working classes united cordially, they would wring from
the aristocracy by fear what had been before asked humbly.
He would net inflict upon the meeting unnecessary statistical
details, but he who chose to inform himself on the subject
might refer to " Marshall's Statistics," where he would find
the amount of land-tax paid in France, Holland, Belgium, and
other continental States. In Holland the people could live one-
third cheaper than in this country, because, although the taxes
were heavier there then here, yet they fell upon the wealthy
instead of upon the poor man. There the tax was upon pro-
perty, and not upon labour, and, unless a similar system were
speedily adopted here, this country would be a dependent and
insignificant island. He would say to the Chartists, of
whom he understood a number were in the room,
that it was olten very difficult to do away with long
held prejudices, if they found the middle classes willing
to go with them in all the points of Chartism, except
two, and those two points of detail, upon which they them-
selves were not quite agreed, they would not be acting wisely
if they refused at the present crisis the right hand of amity and
fellowship that was held out to them by the middle classes.—
( Hear, hear, and loud cheers)—and he would therefore ear-
nestly beseech those who he was told were about to move an
amendment committing the meeting to all the principles of the
Charter, to pause ere they did so, as, if they carried it, it would
be an additional feather in Peel's cap.—( Hear, hear, hear. )
There were many of the gentlemen present who ac: ed as dele-
gates at the Anti-Corn-law League, and concurred in the spirit
of the resolution now before the meeting; and if the Corn-laws

were not repealed before another twelve months, they would find
not only them, but thousands of others, joining the ranks of the
Chartists.—( Hear, hear.)
The Rev. Mr. AIIRAMS, in seconding the resolution, said
he, regretted that some person more competent to do justice to
a resolution so important had not come forward. There could
berm difference of opinion amongst them as to the first part of
it, for it was replete with all the evils of the old system, with-
out even a chance of alleviating the misery and privations the
people were now suffering. They were not anxious to be in-
dependent of foreign nations, but even if they were the example
should be set by those who preach the necessity of such inde-
pendence, yet, nevertheless, chiefly consume the products of
foreign countries in pampered luxury. They were all agreed
that both justice and humanity demanded that the Corn-laws
should be at once and for ever eradicated from the Statute.
book, and therefore there could be no doubt as to their unani-
mous want of confidence in her Majesty's present Ministers.
He fully concurred in the sentiments expressed by the Gentle-
man who preceded him, that nothing was to be hoped for from
the House of Commons as at present constituted. It was not
the House of the people ; it was the House of those who bought
their scats. Something like two millions of money had been
paid by the aristocracy, for the purpose of keeping themselves
and the people in their present relative positions of masters and
slaves.—( Loud cheers.) But they should not forget that
there was blame to be attached to those who sent persons, not
representing their opinions, to Parliament, but those who paid
them most. All those who desired the welfare of the country
should forget all petty differences, and stand shoulder to
shoulder, in order that they might battle with and conquer the
aristocracy. The question was, were they to have an union
of the Refermers in the borough of Lambeth ? They came
prepared to join with those designating themselves as Chartists,
and there many amongst the middle classes who had made con-

cessions, for upon some points in the Charter they were not fully
decided. The Rev. Genterean then entered at some length
upon the details of the Charter, in the leading points of which
he expressed his concurrence, and concluded by entreating
the Chartists present not to allow themselves to be led away
by passion, but to recollect that the question was whether
there should be unanimity of action and purpose amongst
the Reformers of the great metropolitan borough of Lambeth.
The CHAIRMAN having put the resolution to the meeting,
Mr. BROWN said he did not think he would be doing his
duty to the great cause he advocated, nor to the Chartists
who formed so large a majority of the meeting, if he did not
rise to propose an amendment to the resolution just read.
No man could say but the principle contained in the People's
Charter, was founded upon Christianity and justice.
The Corn-laws could not be repealed without their means,
and they found they other night, that both Whigs and Tories
united against Me. Villiers' motion. After commenting, at
great length, upon the five points in the People's Charter,
he concluded by moving an amendment to the following
effect ;—" That it was the deliberate opinion of the meeting
that corrupt legislation was the grand cause of all the evils
which afflicted the country ; that the Corn-laws were bad in
their operation, but arose from class legislation; and the House
of Commons, being composed of persons who are opposed to the
rights and liberties of the people, and the suns or relatives of
the lords of the soil, sitting in what was called the House of
Lords, the meeting believed the only remedy was to be found
in what was called the People's Charter. Ihe meeting, there-
fore, pledged itself, by all lawful means, to struggle for its ac.
coin plishment."

111. r. H UGGIT seconded the amendment.
Mr. M. P. HAYNES supported the original motion, in a very
able and talented speech.
Several Chartists having addressed the meeting,
Thar CHAIRMAN put the motion and amendment, and upon
a show of hands, declared the amendment ‘I as carried by a small
majority.
'f he meeting soon afterwards separated.

Just ready, in two vols. post Bvo, with Illustrations,
TION DON LEGENDS.
By PAUL PINDAR, Gent.
Richard Bentley, New Burlington-stret.