The Sun.
London, England, 1842-12-21 00:00:00

Ajar never happened, and never can occur. Yet we I
have known the farmers of England, in a body, five '
times complaining of unparalleled distress, since the
passing of the famous law for their protection in 1815,
and appealing to Parliament for the relief of their
sufferings, and this generally happened when trade
and manufactures were comparatively prosperous !
Will not such facts as these induce you to doubt
whether the law which interferes with your trade,
with no better results than these, had not better be
totally and immediately repealed ?"
How is that want of success and prosperity of
the farmers to be accounted for, if the Corn-law
does not cause it ? They are a hard-working,
frugal, pains-taking race of men, than whom no
persons in the community deserve to be snore
prosperous and wealthy. They feed the whole
of us ; and it is a disgrace to society that they
are not at least as easy in their circumstances
as retail traders, to say nothing of the land-
owners, who contribute not at all to the national
wealth. Mr. HOPE has not pointed out all the
circumstances which make the Corn-law inju-
rious to the actual working agriculturists, though
he has indicated, in the words " poor farmers,"
the chief source of the evil of such laws.

THE WEATHER.—Sux OFFICE, DEc. 21.
THERMOMETER, Lowest, 50 ; Highest, 56 : Noon, 55.

BAROMETER, 30.40.-WIND,' N.W.

4 stk)N
•
• E

To the poor farmers who are obliged to sell
their crop t) pay a rent double what it ought to
be, the Corn-laws have, it is plain, been an un-
mitigated mischief. NOW Mr. HOPE has shown,
:n the second paragraph we have quoted, that
the bulk of the farmers are poor, Then 'the
Corn-laws have been an unmitigated mischief
to the bulk of the farmers, conferring advan-
tages only on those who are the opulent excep-
tions to the rule.

It has always appeared to us to be a benevo-
lent dispensation of Providence that the cultivators
of the soil are made, without any intervention of
the Legislature, a dependent and an indebted
race. This arises from a natural circumstance,
which has not been sufficiently noticed by writers
on political economy, namely, the different pe-
riods required to complete and bring to market
the production of different trades and occupa-
tions. A plough may be made in a few days,
and a pair of shoes in forty-eight hours. The
tailor completes a coat for the farmer in three
or four days at most, and in a few hours the smith
shoes his horses, or repairs his broken implements.
But the farmer, as the rule, must work from six
to eight months at least, between buying the
seed for his spring corn and reaping it ; eleven
months, or more, between sowing his wheat and
selling it ; and if he be a rearer of cattle, he may
be obliged to wait two or three years before lie
can send his produce to market. It requires a
much longer time to perfect his produce than
that of other tradesmen. He becomes, in conse_
quence, indebted to all the tradesmen whose work
for him is completed in a few hours, or clays, or
weeks. All those tradesmen make him pay, not
only the wages of their workmen, but the interest
of their capital.

He also, in the majority of cases, advances the
wages of his labourers a whole year, before he ob-
tains any profit on them ; while the profit of
other tradesmen begins when they send their
g ,ods home. As a rule, the bulk of the farmers
pay their tradesmen's accounts only once, or at
most, twice a year ; and in the great majority of
cases they must run in debt to those who work
for them. They have, 'every Michaelmas, nume-
rous other obligations to acquit, as well as an ex-•
orbitant rent. If they were not an indebted race,
and were able to live from year to year without
incurring obligations to those whose labours arc
perfected in shorter periods than the harvest ri-
pens, they would have the rest of mankind at
their mercy ; that they have not, is the result of
the great natural fact we have pointed out, which,
in our judgment, is a dispensation of Providence,
for which all gratitude is due.

Now, the farmers being naturally, and, of
necessity, an indebted race, loaded with obliga-
tions at and before the period of the harvest,
what does the Corn-law for them ?It adds to
all their obligations. It makes them promise a
higher rent. It makes them pay more for seed
corn. It enhances the monied price of the wages
of the journeymen smiths, tailors, and wheel-
wrights, which they have to pay ; and they have
also to pay pgofits on the larger sum requisi'e
to pay those wages. The law cannot secu' e
either a good harvest or the price of grain ; tInA
remains a contingency. Thus the law increases,
with unerring certainty, the farmer's obligations,
and leaves him a contingency for remuneration.
Experience has proved that the odds are as much
against him as against those who de,,l with
usurers; and at the end of the game all the ad-
vantages, as Lord BACON says of usurers, are in
the landlord's and the tradesman's till. That is,
we believe, the explanation of the circumstance
that the farmers have not thriven under a Corn-
law, which has promised them such great advan-
tages, equally with the grocers, butchers, and
drapers. To the farmers the Corn-law is a great
aggravation of all the natural peculiarities of
their condition; it increases their obligations, and
increases their dependence.

The only practical question now remaining.
we believe, as to this law is, shall it be totally or
partially repealed ? Let the farmers listen to
Mr. HOPE on this practical and important ques-
tion:—

" 'Whatever modifications take place short of total
repeal, the burden will be thrown, if possible, under
all sorts of pretences, upon the farmers. The expe-
rience of the late changes in the Tariff and the Corn-
law has shown this pretty plainly. The landowners
have laboured to convince you, at your recent agri-
cultural gatherings, that the alterations in the late ses-
sion have had little effect upon prices. They still try
to assure you that the law will afford you ample pro •
tection. But, even if the law did protect you (which
it never did and never mill), what guarantee have
you that the political landowners will not come to an
agreement again in London next session, as they
did in the last, with Sir Robert Peel, and consent to
ea
another alteration ? Depend upon it, there is no
crhenantaceanodf yours s
e osmoinktri;oa a s
y osatisfactorylowt
aed
interventionstm en tof
of politics in your bargains
withthe landowners.
Politics may be a "inning
their own arrangements to La_kinee withto
the those who have
Minister of
the day ; but I pity the case of the farmer who reckons
any Corn-law for the value of a farthing, in making
a bargain for las farm with his landlord. So long as
the owners of your farms an point to a law, as a
reason for obtaining a certain price for their produce,
you will in no case be able to make a safe agreement
for the use of their land. Get rid of all such interfe-
rences with your dealings at once. Let the Corn-laws
be totally and immediately repealed, and then every
tenant throughout the kingdom will .at once be
brought on fair terms to a settlement with his land-
lord. Public opinion and the necessities of the case
will then force an equitable adjustment of rents and
leases, and the dealings between landlord and tenant
will thenceforth settle down into mere matters of bu-
siness,, with which politics will no longer interfere.'
Mr. HOPE is right. Any modification of the
laws whatever will only have for its effect to
continue the system by which the landlords,
under the pretext of protecting the farmers,
have extorted from them all their substance,
and degraded them into political tools. They
want to go on in the same career, and throw all
the losses, if any, that accrue from altering their
law on the tenants. But the system which lays
on them unnecessary obligations, which prevents
them getting rich, like grocers and drapers,
should, for their sakes, be not only totally but
immediately abolished. Modifications of it will
only introduce additional uncertainty into all the
operations of the agriculturists.

GENERAL NOTT.—It is highly amusing to observe
how anxious many are to lower, as far as possible,
the families of the heroes of Affghanistan. We can
state, from the very best authority, that Major-
General Sir William Nott is a native of Wiltshire,
and of a respez.table family. He obtained a com-
missionin the East India Company's service, and
left England at the early age of fifteen. His elder
brother remained in England, and was a gentleman
farmer; and his younger brother (who has been
dead for many years) was a lieutenant in her
Majesty's army.
'TIE GIANT FlGllT.—Yesterday morning this
long pending fight was brought to a termi-
nation in favour of Freeman, after fighting thirty-
eight rounds. The Father Thames steamer was
engaged for the occasion, and started from London-
bridge to North Point, on the Kentish coast, just
below Gravesend. Nearly 400 persons were present.
It was fought in the short space of thirty-nine minutes.
Neither men were at all injured.

The Earl Fitzwilliarn has appointed the Rev. J. A.
Beaumont, 13. A., F.C.P.S., of Trinity College, Cam-
bridge, and curate of Hunslet, Leeds, to be his Lord-
-shiP 5 domestic chaplain.

TilE SUN, LONDON, WEDNESDAY EVENING, DECEMBER 21, (842

Bourse of the 12th inst. at 21 0-16 cash, and 22
at 60 days. The Fives at 26 cash, and 26i at 60
days. Certificates of the debt without interest at
at 60 days.

The Paris papers contain farther accounts of
attempts at insurrection in Spain, but they arc
always put down at once, showing that the peo-
ple take no part in them. The latest is contained
in the following dispatch, addressed to the French
Government from Seville, 'but without a date :
—" Two battalions of the National Guards spon-
taneously got under arms in the night of the Bth
instant, and demanded that the troops of the gar-
rison should be withdrawn. Martial law was
proclaimed, and on the following day order was
restored." This appeared in a Government
paper, and the Presse, the organ of the ex-
Regent, also states that a rising at Girona, in
Catalonia, was anticipated. That journal, no
doubt, is well informed on subjects of this kind;
but, unfortunately, for its party, these risings
only injure their cause. The writer is aware of
the fact, and thus, with the usual hatred of Eng-
land, mourns over the results :
ts. not then-England yet satisfied ? Has she not
yet caused blood enough to be shed in Spain ? It is
announced that Zurbano has been ordered to march
on Girona, where some agitation has manifested itself,
and it is well known that it was the presence of this
man that brought about the insurrection at Barcelona.
Must then all the manufacturing towns of Catalonia
be submitted to the same fate, which has just de-
stroyed the prosperity of their capital ? Is not the
terror sufficient in Spain for the treaty of commerce
to be consummated ?

The Constitutionnel blames the English and
Spanish journals for attacking the French Consul,
and for the view which they have taken of the
proceedings at Barcelona. We simply ask, who
began the attack ? Before a word against either
the Consul or the French Government appeared
in any English journal, strong denunciations
were made in the Paris papers against the British
Consul for his inhumanity towards the Spanish
refugees, and stories were published, announcing
that the English ships were sent to that quarter
for the purpose of supplying VAN HALEN with
ammunition, and battering down Barcelona.
The French cannot expect us to be silent under
such grievous accusations. That journal in a
grave mood thus defends itself and the French
press :

\Ve compel ourselves to observe the most mode-
rate and just language in'our observations on the late
events at Barcelona, and this has not been an easy
task in the midst of the just indignation which has
been raised in France at the bombardment of that
city. In spite, however, of our sympathies for the
Spanish Government, and our sincere desire to see a
firm hand re-establish order in the Peninsula, we
cannot, without an energetic protest, read the attacks
which the Madrid journals make on the French Con-
sul—a man whose conduct has been, throughout the
whole affair, dictated by the noblest feelings of huma-
nity. We are not astonished at the attitude assumed
by the English press, for whom the catastrophe of
Barcelona has simply this advantage, to suppress an
obstacle to the conclusion of the treaty of commerce.
But if we can understand the inhuman joy of the
English, we cannot permit them to fal3ify the truth,
and to take a text from the disastrous events of Cata-
lonia to calumniate France. In the eyes of civilised
Europe, it is not to them, but to us that the best cha-
racter belongs
in that deplorable affair.
The Journal des Debats publishes a letter from
Perpignan, announcing that TERRADAS is at the
bead of from 500 to 600 men in the mountains,and
that ColJnel Pant, a deputy of the Cortes, was
endeavouring to raise the district called Campo
de Tarragona. "Although the details are want-
ing," it adds, " we are inclined to believe that
there is some foundation for these rumours, as
we find that ESPARTERO is prolonging his resi-
dence at Sarria, where he continued on the 13th
instant. He no doubt does not wish to quit Cata-
lonia until he shall have extinguished all traces
of revolt. •As soon as the troops which have been
dispatched from the interior of Spain shall have
arrived, he will commence his operations in the
provinces."
BOURSE—PAzus. MONDAY, DECEMBER 19.
First Highest _.ovvest Last
Price. Price Price. Price.
French Five per Cents. 119 5... 191 25... 119 5... 119 10
Four per Cents. 100 95... 100 95... 100 95... 100 9i)
Threes . 78 90... 73 95... 78 90.. 78 95
Bank of France 3340 ...3340 ...3320 ...3330
Laffitte Bank I,ooof 1050 —lO5O ...1050 —.1050

5,000 f 5080 ...5080 —.5080 _5OBO
Belgian Bank, 1811 .. 1075 —.1075 ...1075 ...1075
Belgian Fives 1034 ... 103 k 103 k 103 k
1840 1043 ... 104 k 104 g 104 g.
Spanish Active. . 24 ... 24 ... 24 ... 24
Passive 4 ... 4 ... 4 ... 4
Portuguese Fives 32/ ... 328 ... 323 ... 32g
Neapolitan
Romin lo4k ... 104 k ... 104 k ... 104 k
RAILWAY SHARES
-

Versailles, L.B.
R. B 2BO ... 280 ... 275 ... 275
Rouen
Orleans. 621 2-3... 622 50... 615 ... 615
Strasburg to Bale 203 75... 203 75... 203 75... 203 75

HAMBURGH BORSEN HALLE, Dec. TO.
Bills. Money.

Austrian 5 per Cents.
Bank Shares 1640
Anglo-Russian Loan
Russian 5 per Cent., Ist series, Certificate...." 1024
Inscription, let series
Russian 5 per Cent. hope and Co., 3d and 4th
Series —
Ditto in Certificates
New 4 per Cent. (1840). B9 86
Dutch Actual Debt, a% per Cent.
Ditto 5 per Cent. - _
Polish Bonds .. —
New Tickets —
Anglo-Danish Loan, 3 per Cent. — 82
Spanish, New 5 p .r Cents. —
EXCHANGES ON LONDON.

HAMBURGII, Dec. 16 —l3 9';.‘, Two months 1:3 7N.
PETERSBURG, Nov. 29.—Three months, 37% pence.
Rum, DEc 10. ...Three Months, 3i%
STOCKHOLM, 1 tve. 9. Seventy-five days, 12 13.
VIENNA, Nov. 29.—Three months. 9. 4/i.
PRUSSIAN FUNDS.—BERLIN, DEG. VS.
Bills. Money
St. Sehuld Sch., 4 per cent.
Prussian English Bond:, 1630, t per cent 109.% 1, 2
Exchange on London -g 241
.Prussian Slate Gazette, Dec. 16.

DEATH OF A POLICE SERGEANT WHEN ON DUTY.
—Mr. IVakley held an inquest yesterday at the
King's Arms, Frederick's-street, Regent's-park, on
the body of Andrew Allen, a sergeant of the S division
of police. It appeared from the evidence that the de-
ceased, who generally enjoyed good health, went on
duty on Saturday night last, shortly after which he
was proceeding, accompanied by one of his men, along
the Hampstead-road, when opposite the Reservoir he
suddenly began coughing, and spat up a quantity of
blood. Continuing to do so, and complaining of feel-
ing very ill, he was assisted towards home, which he
had reached within a few yards, when he sank down
upon the ground. He was immediately carried in
doors, where he evinced no signs of animation, and on
a surgeon being sent for, life was pronounced to be
extinct. • Verdict, "Natural Death."
EXTRAORDINARY CASE OF POISONING OF SEVEN
CHILDREN.—The following extraordinary case of poi-
soning seven children, belonging to St. Saviour's
Charity School, in the Borough, occurred yesterday
morning, and in one instance has already terminated
fatally, while the lives of six others have been put in
great jeopardy. It appears that a boy named Wm.
Chambers, belonging to the school, who lives with his
parents in Castle-street, in the Borough, was going
thither, and on his way he picked up a small packet
in the street, which contained a considerable quantity of
powder of a yellowish cast. He took it with him to
the school, and having tasted some of it himself, and
finding it to be sweet, he gave a portion of it to six
others, named Westwood, Lester, Clark, Field, Wood,
and Tallby, who also partook of it. On their leaving
school, at twelve o'clock, the boys were severally taken
ill with sickness and vomiting, and acute pains in the
bowels. Mr. Wood, surgeon, of Worcester-street,
was immediately sent for, and a portion of the powder
shown to him, which he pronounced to be arsenic.
Prompt measures were adopted, and the usual antidotes
administered, but 'Westwood, having taken a greater
quantity than the others, sunk under it, and expired
in the latter part of the day. Chambers, the boy who
found the powder, and another named Lester, lie in a
very dangerous condition. The four other boys, who
had partaken more sparingly of it, are in a very ex-
hausted state, although strong hopes are entertained
that they will recover.
DESTITUTION.-011 Friday, the inhabit tuts of the
eastern portion of the city, particularly in Monteith-
row, were put into a state of alarm by a crowd of up-
wards of 200 miserable individuals walking en masse,
with a board exhibited before them, having a placard
affixed " Public Begging." A committee of three
were in front with a tin box in their possession, having
an aperture in the lid, and a strong padlock in
front, which was presented at each door as the
cavalcade moved along. The leading parties were,
on the complaint of the inhabitants, taken to the
police-office, which had the effect of dispersing the
crowd. We understand this course was resolved on
on Monday evening, and that nightly meetings were
to be held to divide the proceeds. Seven of the most
active of the parties were taken to the police-office,
and, on Saturday, brought before Bailie Hastie,
charged with the offence of public begging. They
pleaded destitution as their only excuse; and the
ease was remanded for farther consideration.—Glas-
ow
The Great Western steamer, which is now laid up
at Bristol, is to make her first voyage for 1843, via
Madeira, on the 11th of Feb.