The Sun.
London, England, 1845-12-04 00:00:00

POSITION OF THE CORN-LAW

QUESTION.
(From the Eclectic Review for December.)
Another heave has been given to the progress of tho
corn-law question, by circumstances which man cannot
regulate, but on tho occurrence of which or something
similar, he was as much bound to calculate, as sea-going
man is to be provided with the means of reefing his
sails, in the knowledge that though none can foretel the
precise period of a gale, a gale at some time is in the
first class of certainties. A failure has been announced
in the potato crop ; thus reducing the numerous class
who in the language of ecclesiastical dignitaries " rejoice
in potatoes," to try what they can make of mortifying
upo❑ wheaten flour, after the counsels of that celebrated
French princess, who said, that sooner than die like the
people who starved for want of bread, she would live on
macaroons. And this is backed up by continually ac-
cumulating reports, that the wheat harvest in mast parts
of the country is defective either in quantity or quality,
and that the other countries of Europe, with the unim-
portant exception of Denmark, are suffering under at
least a jealousy of short supply.
And here it is that our quarter-deck people have con-
trived to move a step towards the solution of the ques-
tion. A belief is clearly among the crew, that a gale of
wind is coming on, and a winter's night in prospect
makes it doubly important to prepare. Of the officers
some take one side and some the other ; but there is
shrewdly surmised to be an interest among them in
keeping things as they are. In some way or other the
sensibility of their breeches' pockets is suspected to be
involved in denying the danger, and carrying sail
through all, though at the risk of sending the masts
over the side, when they are supposed to count upon
having the boats at their disposal, and escaping the de-
struction which is to fall on the ignoble herd. In this
state of things the chief mate—(for the captain is too
great a personage to have anything personally to say to
it, nor would much difference be made by the fact if it
took place)—the chief mate bolds a council—half a
dozen councils—hoer after hour of precious time
expended on each. By this he recognises to the fullest
extent, that there is a popular belief—a creed among
the unaccounted vulgar, who are to go the bottom in the
event of ill success, without a boat to help them—that a

;ale is close at hand. Knots of the crew are seen col-

reefed here and there, handling the ropes which lead to
reefing sails, and the word from time to time passes
among them that the chief mate is only waiting to hear
what this and another gentleman has to say against it,
and then he is going to the captain to say it must be
done. _

In this position of things, what does our Palinurus, 1
chief of all with the exception of the aced of the gods
that tenants the state cabin, finally decide on? He de-
cides, that though the growling of the coming storm is
not reduced but heightened, and without a shadow of
reason to show except that the gentlemen do not like it,
he will say we will go on as we are, and if the gale comes
and all effort at taking in a reef is too late, we will read
the Prayer for Fair Weather as by law established, and
put the officers into the boats when the rest must clearly
go down.
In this state of being " doubly armed," and with the
certainty that the abolition of restrictions on the provi-
vision of food must come hereafter, because it does not
come now, it is time for those to be looking about them,
who are the enemies not only of the evil principle im-
mediately concerned, but of other evil principles which
hang by it and own a common origin. In public ques-
tions, which can only be settled by the gradual prepon-
derance of opinion under whatever disadvantages ex-
pressed, there is very little use in the concealment which
may be prudence in more limited concerns. The adver-
sary " knows his strength, and we know ours." Lord
Ashley's declaration is decisive on this point. Instead
of being an indication of personal weakness, as in some
quarters unwisely intimated, it was the cool declaration
of a good officer, taking a leader's view of the field, and
counselling the taking up of the inferior position, be-
cause the higher was no longer tenable. Such a moment
was no time for discussing the principles of a cause ;
all men are supposed to have made up their minds on
these before they present themselves to a contest. A
good leader does not request his followers to throw
themselves into a gulph because their cause is good; he
does what is much more likely to be of use, desires
them to take up a contracted position which he points
out. The time then seems come, when, as Meuse Head-
rigg invited the Life Guards under Claverhouse in their
retreat, the enemy may be called upon to " tarry," and
be in no hurry to get away from the consequences of
his defeat. There is more to be done with him, before
he is quit ; why will he not stand like a man, and de- •
fend his grand position, or else quietly give up the
others which will be fouud to hang by it? The corn-
laws were not merely enactments for finding portions
fo; the ruling classes' daughters ; they were the ban-
ner, the cockade, the representative by concentration, of
their general right of wrong. If it is once discovered
that the ruling classes cannot keep their corn-laws, a
a host of questions they " may not look upon," will be
gathering fast about them, each grimmer and more ab-
horrent to them than its predecessor. Nothing is more
certain than that the maintenance of wrongs at large
depends on the invulnerability of each particular one.
The boy who would not say A because he knew he
should be asked to say B, is the true and only type for
the policy of wrong-doers. Why not hold out a little
longer? Is it not plain that the corn-laws are in the
fact of being surrendered, and legions of strange aspect,
leaving no hope to the claimants of the marriage por-
tions but from their quarrelling with one another, are
standing on the slip for the first entry at the breach that
shall be made? If the monopoly of the bread that
perishes cannot maintain itself, what sanctuary can be
depended on, where the suffering genius of wrong may
hide the sorrows of her pocket and her heart ?
The League, with vast resources in possession and
almost boundless ones behind, has made ac inroad into
the fortress of misrule, and as regards the county regis-
tration, may be said to have recovered the Constitution.
Not a man who has an honest purpose but may take
advantage of the expensive machinery here established
to his hand, and march in to take his own share of the
recovered power, if he can only stomach cheap bread as
an accompaniment. It is, therefore, for all that con-
ceive themselves wronged, to make a part in the move-
ment ; and if they do not, they are not men who know
how to shut their mouth when a good thing is put into
it. There may be battles after the battle of Armaged-
don ; but a man will not be the worse for having been
there, and on the right side. Of course, when the League
has gained its point, there will be a great breaking-up
into a multiplicity of directions ; Ptolemies of all kinds,
parcelling out the empire of the defunct Alexander. But
nothing is clearer than that they will have gained by the
previous union, and not lost. Darius, then, must settle
his affairs with the Macedonian as he can ; and when
that scene of the play is played, his successors may count
on finding the Ptolemies in positions of their own.

HORTICULTURAL SOCIETT.—The last meeting for
the year was held on Tuesday afternoon, at the rooms of the
society, in Regent-street, when, notwithstanding the advanced
period of the season, there was a very superior show of both
fruits and flowers. The chair was taken by R. W. Barchard.
Esq., and the company was numerous. Amongst the fruit
were some tine specimens of black Hambro' grapes grown in
a house without heat by Mr. Crawshay, of Colney Hatch ;
Queen pine-apples, of good cultivation and large size, from
Mr. Birsby, and peaches from Mr. Ware. The fruit
from the gardens of the society were, of pears, Glout
Morcean, tie Plus Meures, Winter Neils, Bergamotte Ca-
dette,
which ripens in succession all throughout the
winter ; and Beurre d'Aremberg, a fruit which differs much
in character and properties, according as it is cultivated;
and the apples were Golden Reinette, Claygate, Pear-
main, Sam Young, Mere de Menage, and Ducumelon's Seed-
ling. Amongst the flowers was a collection of orchidacea,
amongst which was one of a delicate and powerful odour, the
flowers of which are used by the females of Brazil to adorn
and scent the hair. There were also three collections of
several varieties of chrysanthemums, showing the great im-
provement which cultivation has made in the appearance of
this favourite winter flower. The prizes awarded were silver
Knightian medals to Mr. Crawshay for grapes, and Mr.
Plumley for heaths • and silver Banksian medals to Mr.
Lawrence far orchidaceous plants, and Mr. Moore for a spe-
cimen plant. The extract from the meteorological register
kept at the gardens, No 7. 4th to Dec. 2d, gave, barometer,
highest, Nov. 4th, 30;468 inches; lowest, Nov. 19th, 29,077
inches ; thermometer, highest, Nov. Bth, 60 deg. F. ; lowest,
Nov. 4th, 22 neg. F ; and quantity of rain, 2.11 inches. The
meetinfL adjourned to 20th of January, 1846.
ACCIDENT ON THE EDINBURGH AMD GLASGOW
7,--CalewAv.—On Saturday evening last, about seven o'clock,
an accident occurred on the Edinburgh and Glasgow Rail-
way, near the station at Kirkintilloch. On the arrival at
that station of the train, which leaves Glasgow at six o'clock,
the five o'clock train being behind time, the engine which
generally returns singly was sent to its assistance. It had
not gone four or five hundred yards beyond the station, .s hen
the engineman gave the signal that all was not right ; when
the officers at the station proceeded to the spot they found
that a weaver belonging to Waterside, about a mile distant,
had been lying on the line, and the engine had passed over
his right leg about the ankle. He was immediately brought
to the station, and medical aid sent for, but the train arriving
from Edinburgh in the interim it was thought advisable to
bring him to the infirmary, where, after having his leg ampu-
tated a little below the knee joint, we understand he is doing
well. No blame can be attached to the railway company, as
the man had been brought back and previously warned.
Ile was quite insensible with liquor, and seemed quite wi-
conecious of the damage he lied sustained. The ens-mem:in
saw him only a few yards distant, and brought his engine
up, but not until about 100 yards past.—Glasgow Herald.
His Imperial Highness the Grand Duke Constantine
of Russia, as wo have already stated, embarked on board the
Ingermanland, Russian frigate, on Wednesday last, with the
intention of proceeding direct to Italy, but his Imperial
Highness has been hitherto prevented from proceeding on
his vovage by the prevalence of contrary winds. At the
date of the last accounts the lugermauland had not left the
Sound. _ _

LADY VILLIERS.—We are exceedingly happy to
state that the accounts received daily in town from Upton
House continue very favourable. Iler Ladyship has nearly
recovered from her late serious attack of illness.
The Bath Corporation has, by a majority of 23
to 14, rejected a proposition for raising the Mayor's salary
from 2001. to 300/. per annum.
The Duke and Duchess of Richmond and the
Ladies Gordon Lennox have arrived in town, from Gordon
Castle, North Britain.
TILE TIDES.—The only place on the earth were the
solar tide is greater than the lunar tide, is at Courtown Har-
bour, south of Dublin. In all other place. the lunar influence
predommates to the extent of about 44 truss (ikccoriling to
N ewtown).