The Sun.
London, England, 1845-11-26 00:00:00

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LONDON, WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 26. 1845

Lard Jonx RUSSELL, during his quiet retreat at
Edinburgh, has employed his time usefully in viewing
the alarming state of the corn and potato crops, and
has embodied his sentiments on that important question,
as well as others connected with it, in a letter addressed
to his constituents, the electors of the City of London.
Withane exception, and that is a most important one,
there is little new in the letter, and hardly any opinions
expressed which have not occurred to most persons con-
versant with the working of the obnoxious system of
corn-laws, and especially the ruinous effects of the sliding-
scale, - but even in that case his Lordship's opinions,
though not differing materially from those entertained
by the great body of free-traders, may be regarded as
of the ,greatest value, and the most decisive proof that
the fate of the corn-laws is sealed. His Lordship, with
that' good sense, candour, and independence for which
he is justly admired, even by those who disagree with
him, admits that he has changed his opinions, and is
fully convinced that the trade in corn must be free. " I
used," says he, "to be of opinion that corn was an ex-
ception, to the general rules of political eco-
nomy, but observation and experience have con-
vinced • roe that we ought to abstain from all
interference with the supply of food. Neither the
Government nor a Legislature can ever regulate the
corn-market ;villa the beneficial effects which the entire
freedom cf anh, and purchase are sure to produce."
These are noble sentiments for a statesman so intimately
connedted by bl ood with the first aristocratic families in
the kingdom, but they are chiefly important as the
deliberate expressions of the leader of a great party,
and the only vial antagonist whom Sir RORERT PEEL has
to fear: It is 4 in that light that we view the question,
because from. the new position of the parties the most
beneficial arej decisive results may be anticipated. In
almost every great measure introduced by Sir ROBERT
PEEL , since he assumed the reins of Government in '
1841 he has only been an imitator, and in that respect
be has• surpassed all former statesmen. He is taught by
the enemy be adopts his principles, and to give them
some shoW of originality, he carries them to the utmost
extent that the circumstances of the country and the
prejudices of the people will allow. The Maynooth
Grant; the Colleges Bill, a system of conciliation to-
wards Ireland!, and every new measure adopted for the
government bf that country—all were stolen from the
Whigs. In' his commercial policy he has acted on the
same princple. lie took the original idea from his
antagonists,) clothed it in a new shape, and, with the
exception o the corn-law, has far outbid them in con-
cessions to the free-traders. But even on that head he
has dune something. The admission of foreign cattle
and provisioni at a moderate duty, and, above all, the
Canada Cora:Bill, were movements in the right direc-
tion, and hcd out a hope, nay led to conviction,
that as soot as time and circumstances would
allow, he - wiiuld go the whole length. When his
new sliding7amtle was introduced he had nothing to fear
from Lord Jotisr RUSSELL. The MELeousTE Ministry
made a great blunder, when they touched the corn-laws
at all, to +pose so little relief. In fact, the Bs. duty
was scouted; by the free-traders, and justly regarded as
even worse( than the sliding•scale. The evils of that
preposterous Ond unjust arrangement were so manifest,
that they mu4t in a short time work their own cure, and
the cure has ;commenced; but from a fixed duty there
was no holx of relief, aria that scheme, therefore,
received warm support from no quarter whatever.
A different scene however has now opined, and: if Sir

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