The Sun.
London, England, 1842-12-30 00:00:00

TLIEATRF, ROYAL. I-lAN-MARKET.

THIS EVENING. DEC. 3
Will be rep'ated the New Drama, called GRAND-
FATHER WHITEHEAD. Grandfather Whitehead, Mr.
W. Farren ; Drayton, (a Builder), Mr. Tilbury; Langley, (a
Retired Trader), Mr. Stuart ; Driver, (a Lawyer), Mr.
Strickland; Bab Lincoln, (his Clerk), Mr. Webster; Snap,
Clark ; Edward Drayton (Drayton's Son), Master George
Webster ; Louisa Drayton, Mrs. Edwia Yarnold.; Susan,
(Ferratt to Langli ), Mrs. Stanley.
After which, THE DOWAGER. "Lord Alfred Lyndsay,
Mr. Charles Mathews ; Dowager Countess of Tresilian, Madame
Vcstris.

To be fOl'oed by the Drama of THE 13ASTILE. Louis
Quatorze, Mr. H. Hell; Frirandeau, Mr. Webster; the
Duchess de Montbazon, Miss Charles; Ninon Labatte, Ma-
-earn° Celeste.

To coneude with a Grand Comical Burlesque Bur-
letta, called RIQUET, WITH THE TUFT. Prince
Biquet, with the Tuft, Mr. Charles Mathews ; Green-horn
the Great, Mr. James Mann; Prince Finikin, Miss Charles;
The-Princess Emeralds, Madame Vestris. •

PRINCESS'S THEATRE, OXFORD-STREET.
THIS EVEMNP, DEC. 30,
Will be repeated a New Domestic Drama, entitled SHE'S
NOT TO BLAME, in which Miss Amelia Mercer, from the
Theatre Royal, York, will perform.
Atter which, TUX WELSH RABBIT. The Printipal
Characters by Mr. J. Balls, Mr. Salter, anal Miss E. Stanley.
To conclude with a New Fairy. burlesque burletta, entitled
THE YELLOW DWARF. Principal characters by Mr,
Oxberry, Mrs. Anderson, Miss Noel, Madle. Melanie Duval,
and SI. Deneze, who rill make their first appearance in this
country in the incidental
Places and Private Boxes to be had at the Theatre, and at all
the princ:pal Libraries.

THEATRE ROYAL, ADELPIII.
" Yankee Notes" a d..ci 'e.l hit—Best Pantonsirne in London.
THIS EVENING, DEC. 30,
Will be repeated the new Burletta, entitled TILE MER-
CHANT AND HIS CLERKS.
:
The principal characters
by Messrs. Lyon, 0. Smith, Paul Bedford, Wright, Maynard,
Wieland, Miss Chaplin, Miss Brooks, and Mrs. P. Grattan.
Afier which, a New Kirce,ealled YANK EE NOTES FOR
ENGLISH CIRCULATION. Principal Characters by Mr.
Rice (the celebrated representative of Negro Character),
Mes:rt. Wright, Wilkinson, Maynail, Mesdames H. P. Grat-
tan, H. Beverley, and Chaplin.
To conclude with a New Christmas Pantomime, called THE
CHILDREN IN THE WOOD ; or, HARLEQUIN AND
NOBODY. Harlequin, Mr. Frampton; Anti •Clown (No-
body). Mr ieland ; Clown, Mr. IL Beverly; Pantaloon,
Mr. Samters Co umbine. Miss Bullin.
Boxes, D Pit, 2s. ; Gallery, Is. Doors open at half-past
eix, commence at seven o'clock.

DAVIDGE'S ROYAL SURREY TIAATRE.
As usual, tho most magnificent Pantomime in London—A ter-
rific hit Acknowledged by audiences crammed to the ceiling
—Superb Dresses—Splendid Scenery—Unequalled Appoint:.
nscuts.

THIS EVENING, DEC. 30,
Will be repeated a New Drama, entitled RICHARD
SAVAGE, in which Messrs. Hughes, Hicks, R. Homer,
J. Webster, Neville, Smith, Mrs. R. Honner, Mrs. 11. Vining,
Terrey, &c., &c., will perform.
After which, a New Grand Fairy Par.tomimc, with splendid
Scenery, I._)resses, Tricks, Mechanical Changes, and Appoint-
ment;,.to. be called HARLeQUIN PUCK; or, THE EN-
' CII4.NTED STATUE tiF THE CHRYSTAL FOUN-
TAIN. Harlequin, Mr. Harvey; Clown, Mr. C. Montgo-
mery; Pantaloon, Mr. T. Blanchard ; Columbine, Miss M. R.
Fairbrother. The effects will exceed everything hitherto
attemi:tetl.

Ale,srs. Sam 4, Mitchell, Andrew, and Saruin, are Agents
fur Private Boxes during the run of the Pantomime.
Places and private Boxes to be had of Mr. J. Kerschner, at
the pox• office, from eleven to four.

ITTGo w ATER AT LONDON BRIDGE:riIIs DAY.
tinning..... 15 minutes after 01 Evening ... 5^ minutes after 0.

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LONDON :
FRIDAy MORNING, DECEMBER 30, 1842.

It i •
apsnoidyittllgiatti t, he gieat Tory landlords have
bcen
highly
Lisicrew to Sir It. PEEL, which
is rendered probable by the al-
tered languagentV
h landed gentleman now
use at agricultural meetings._inci They are putting
a bold face on their iNvihisitlce, and are resolved to
bully the private they in-
sinuate their wishes ande in
their threats to Sir
like
B. PEEL. We should
passed
see the corres-
pondence that has recently
tsel substance of
d between cer-
tain noblemen and gentlemen, ie
which has been made known to e Premier.
Premier
We should like to hear the oral communicationsth
which are continually
_made by the metier to
his familiars, and frolll squire to squire, to give)

if possible, a tone to the public sentiment' that
may enable the Right Hon. Baranet to beast of
the unaltered and'unatterabie attachment of the
landowners to the principle of protection, and to
the present sliding scale.
" The time is-fast approaching," adds-the Con-
temporary from whom we have borrowed the as-
sertion, "when it will be known whether Sir
R. PEEL will be allowed to consult the welfare
of the country, or whether he will renounce the
principles he professed last session, and become
the passive instrument of a short-sighted and
mistaken avarice." As we have said already,
Sir R. PEEL will do that which he is compelled
to do ; he has no free will in the matter. If
the grumbling' of the farmers increase, if
rent continue to fall, and if the League presses
forward with rigour and zeal, Sir R. PEEL will,
in the language of our Contemporary,
"consult the public welfare" by abolish-
ing the Corn-law.' If, on the contrary,
the fltriners should think that this is but
one bad season, and should go on hoping and
trusting, as the landowners have cunningly re-
commended, at the same time promising them
some small assistance, and a relaxation of rent;
if the industrious and injured farmers should
therefore make no serious and bitter re-
monstrances to the idle landlords, and
quietly sacrifice their little remaining ca-
pital to pay the utmost amount of rent
they can pay ; if agricultural meetings should
speak boldly; and if at the same time the fall of
prices should relax the zeal of the League, and
make some of its most active members more
eager to profit by present advantages than pro-
vide for future prosperity, then Sir ROBERT PEEL
will not consult the welfitre of the country, and
will not alter the Corn-law. He relies, probably,
on the contingencies we have pointed out. He
promised cheapness, and cheapness is come.
That will be a sufficient . shield against the (16-
mands of the League, unless most vigorously
pressed ; and if the landlords continue vehe-
mently to clamour for protection, he will do their
bidding. In that case he will prepare for him-
self imperishable disgrace, and for his country
indescribable disasters.
Mr. STURT, at. the Blandford meeting, being
one of the resolute protection men, said, under
the burdens the agriculturists have to bear they
are not able to contend with unlimited com-
petition. How can he suppose, then, that the
manufacturers, who share all the burdens of the
State with the agriculturists, can bear them ex-
posed to unlimited competition, and bear the ad-
ditional burden of the bread-tax ? To shut out
competition is to shut out trade, to ruin the ma-
nufacturers, and deprive the agriculturists of
customers. Will that raise the price of wheat ?
Whether it will or not, he and his friends still
cling to the law which promises them a high
price for that produce.
We are not much surprised at the ignorance
and prejudice of the landowners, however much
we deplore them. The word " law" implies settle-
ment and stabiTily, and so the landlords speak of
the law of last session as the settlement of the
question. But however feasible it might be for
the leader of a predatory tribe to settle that their
next piratical excursion should be to Britain, and,
therefore, make that a law; or to establish that
another leader should share with him in the
command; or however feasible it might be for
the successful pirates, become landowners, to
settle a division of the booty, or even to agree
amongst themselves, for their common defence.
to organise themselves into tens, and hundreds,
and shires, and, therefore, establish or settle
such a general means of defence—between such a
law and the settlement or establishment of the
price of a commodity there is no analogy what-
ever. Hence, while the settlement and establish-
ment of tithings and hundreds has existed in
England for ten centuries, or from a period an-
terior to ALFRED to the present time, the law
settling and establishing the price Of wheat could
not be maintained unaltered for twelie years, and
has iltiled every year in accomplishing the object
intended.
The price of wheat depends on the quantity of
corn grown and the number of mouths; on the.
quantities of other things to be given for it,
and time number of persons requiring it; on the
quantity and value of money in circulation, both
of which are effected by bank issues, and are not
settled and established by the law ; and it depends
on the cost of producing .the wheat and other
things. Now,
,no one of these elements of the'
prices of wheat is, or can, be settled or esta-
blished by law; and, therefore, the law which
keeps out foreign grain cannot possibly settle or
establish the price of wheat. The attempt to
settle and establish it by law is, therefore, as
errant a piece of folly, but being replete with
mischief, much more wicked, than an attempt to
regulate the seasons themselves.
Experience amply confirms this theory. The
law since 1815, intended to keep up prices, has
been a complete failure; the price falling at
times to 365. and 395., while there has been a most
rapid increase of manufactures and of -people.
These are obviously the circumstances which at
other times have forced up prices, and wanting
which the law would have had no such effect,
any more than the swearing of fishwives at Bil-
lingsgate. We pity and excuse the somewhat
natural prejudices of booby squires who jump to
the conclusion, because the law settles the suc-
cession to the throne that it can settle the
price of commodities; we can pardon them their
bluster and their bullying, for they have been
nursed in c3nceit and pride by the.deference of
other men ; but we cannot excuse Sir ROBERT
PEEL for maintaining a law intended to settle
and establish prices which he knows cannot
effect that object ; and he will receive no pity,
should his attempt draw on him the execration of
mankind.

A great deal more depends on this question of
free trade than most men imagine. Year after
year the lower classes want food, and the middle
classes struggle in vain to improve their condi-
tion ; year after year are the_ dispositions of all
soured and embittered; year after year the ill-
will of man to man, and of class to class, in-
creases; year after year fraud is strengthened
and honesty weakened; year after year, by the
operation of hunger, distress, anor disappoint-
ment, do rancour, hatred, and all the evil pas-
sions, become predominant, and beget wide-

spread disorder, discontent, and anarchy.
these are the consequences of restriction and

distress.

We went through a trying period of long and
expensive war without suffering half or one

quarter as much at home of distress and discon-

tent as we have suffered since: the peace.

The

people were then prosperous ; the law did not
prevent them from obtaining food; the wonder-
ful inventions of WATT, while the success of our

Navy ensured the general safety of our com-
merce, gave to our industry and our wealth the
most extraordinary extension. By their means
the nation was prosperous, not, as is sometimes

foolishly said, in consequence of a war wastefully
carried on, but in spite of it ; and contentment
and lOYalty grew with the products of commerce
and the steam-engine.
If the mistake, however, were then and
since made of ascribing internal tran-

quillity to good government, instead o

ascribing it to mechanical inventions, how

much more may we. now .dread the mistake

of ascribing the terrible discontent, not only with
the Government, but of man with man, and of

class with class, which now exists, to some robe

rent wickedness which coercion may put down,
instead of tracing it to the general distress caused

by our restrictive laws ?

Another invention of

equal importance to the steam-engine, instead of
now relieving our distress, would increase it; and
thus the wonderful ingenuity and skill of our
people, which, under no other restrictions than

those imposed by circumstances, carried the
nation happily through au arduous contest, are'
converted, by the restrictive laws enacted ,since
the peace, into dire climes. Nothing less than
prosperity and contentment on the one hand,
with all the bland and kindly emotions which

---
spring therefrom, and distress, discontent, and
anarchy on the other, depend on the right solu-
tion of this great question of freedom of trade.

The progress of popUlation carries civilization

with it; and when we find the nation deteriorat-
ing in morals as it increases in numbers, we are
forced to conclude that our political system is
terribly erroneous.
On this account we cannot believe that Sir
ROBERT PEEL is so self-degraded as to have
made up his mind to be the instrument of the
ignorant landlords in endeavouring to continue
the restrictive law. We know that like all
politicians he loves power, and is not very
scrupulous as to the means of acquiring it. We
believe, therefore, that if the preservation of his
own power depends on maintaining that system,
he will try to maintain it. Hence it is the
business of the public, operating through the
League and on the landlords and farmers, to
make- the- preservation of his power and the
maintenance of the system hopelessly incom-
patible. In spite of some Bobadil-talk the land-
owners are dreadfully alarmed at the success of
the League, and the growing discontent of the
tenantry. A few weeks more low prices, and
the continuance of the exertions of the League,
will suffice to rouse the tenantry against the
landowners, and convince Sir ROBERT PEEL
that he can only remain in office by conceding
the abolition of the Corn-laws. Till public
opinion becomes decided we suppose that he
will hold his judgment suspended, and will then
again, as before, make his conduct square with
his presumed interest.

Mr. O'CONNELL'S letter, combined with .the
avowed resistance tolevying poor-rates, will have
convinced the public that Sir ROBERT PEEL bus
not got over the difficulty of Ireland. He can
only rely on the landlords of that country., The
bulk of the peasantry, with their leaders and
their priesthood, are, politically speaking, ra-
ther his enemies than his allies. He not only
supports, he favours and extends a Church which
oppresses them, and whiclr they hate. But
how are the landlords disposed towards
him ? They complain in Ireland most
bitterly of the effects of the tariff. Rents
are fallitig ; rates cannot be paid; land is ac-
tually in some places deteriorated fifty per
cent.; and, taught by Sir ROBERT PEEL, the
the:landlords universally, we believe, ascribe the
fall in prices and in rents to his new lavis.
His difficulties in Ireland must increase ; for,
without conciliating the peasantry and the
Catholic priests, he is alienating from' him the
landlords, and their dependents and friends.
Now comes the proposition to make them
responsible in the first instance for the

poor-rate, which will add fuel to the
flame, and make his work for Ireland
more arduous, probably, than his work for
England. With what subject he will begin
when Parliament assembles, we cannot conjec-
ture; but his task will be much more severe than
last session, while the confidence in him, which
might enable him to succeed, will be much
diminished.