The Sun.
London, England, 1842-07-06 00:00:00

TIM kTNI, torTnow, wErixEsDAY EVVNING, JULN 6, 1841

THE ANTI,CORN-LAW
CONFERENCE.
(THIS DAY.)

The. Deputies met again this morning at the Crown
and Knchor, instead oeßrowa's Hotel, the latter place
being found too small for the" ntrposeS- of the meeting.
P. A. TAYLOR, Esq., took' the chaii'at a quarter past
eleven o'clock.

The Worthy CHAIRMAN, upon taking the chair,
stated that before they proceeded with the business of
the day, he was anxious to read the correspondence
that had been received since yesterday. The first was
a note from Mr. O'Connell, written yesterday, but not
received till after the meeting had adjourned. The note
was to the following effect :—" Mr. O'Connell presents
his compliments to the Chairman of the Meeting
of Deputies from the manufacturing districts, and
regrets extremely chat his necessary attendance
ir. the Belfast Inquiry Committee, will deprive him of
the honour of being present at the above meeting this
day.—Tuesday, the 15th of July." Mr. Wallace had
also expressed himself in similar terms. They had also
received a letter from Lees, near Manchester, to the fol-
lowing effect :—" We, the Free Trade and Anti-Corn-
law Association of Lees beg leave to thank you and the
Delegates assembled in behalf of our suffering country,
for your devotion to the cause of free-trade principles,
and your zeal in bringing before the Government and
the country the horrible and devastating effects of un-
just and blighting monopolies. We are too poor and
exhausted to be able to send a Delegate to your meeting,
or we should gladly have done so. Lees and neighbourhood,
in the parish of Ashton-under-Lyne is mostly engaged
in spinning cotton-yarn and manufacturing cotton goods.
We have a population of about 2,000, or 600 house-
holders. The people totally out of work are about 250,
and the people partially employed, say three days per
week, more than 300. Many are on the parish books.:
the poor-rates are trebled : the wages constantly reduc-
ing, the employers almost ruined, and we do not see how
it is possible much longer to continue without a total
breaking up of the social system and a frightful convul-
sion. And to add to the misfortune, the middle
classes are rapidly sinking down to abject po-
verty, and quite unable to bear up any longer.
A total repeal of the Corn-laws, and a repeal of all mo-
nopoly laws which ruinously raises the price of food and
all kind of provisions, we deem to be the only chance of
saving the country, and raising us once more to a state
of comparative happiness." This letter was signed on
behalf of the meeting and association, by William Nichol-
son, chairman. Another letter was received from
Hinckley, stating that a public meeting of the inhabi-
tants of Hinckley was held to consider the pro-
priety of sending a Deputy to the meeting. ; to simi-
lar meetings previously, the inhabitants of Hinckley
had always sent Deputies, but they now felt so
utterly hopeless, that they had decided on not sending
a Deputy, but sending a letter explananatory of their
feelings : "of the state of Hinckley for suffering no words
could convey an idea. Tears and groans were but poor
language for it." " Mr. Thomas Clowes," continued the
letter, "is the appointed bearer of this letter of the in-
habitants of Hinckley to the Anti-Corn-Law Deputies
assembled in Palace-yard, London. If you will procure
a hearing for him while he reads it, or cause it to be read
to the meeting by your Secretary, you will much oblige
your fellow-sufferers of Hinckley."
Mr. G. Thompson then read the following letter:—
" THE INHABITANTS OF HINCKLEY TO THE MEET-
ING OF THE ANTI-CORK-LAW DEPUTIES, PALACE-
YARD, LONDON.
" Fellow-Sufferers—At the summons of the League,
we sent Representatives to both the late meetings of
Anti-Corn-law Deputies, but we send none to this.
Our best wishes are with you, not our hopes, for we have
none. You are again attempting a breach in that mo-
nopolist Legislature that famishes the many for the
luxury of the few ; that battens the few on the very
flesh and blood of the multitude that pine and
die around them ; that shuts us from the rest
of the plentiful world in England, as in a pri-
son, reducing the food of its sinewy and willing inhabi-
tants to less than prison allowance; that monopolist Le-
gislature that blocades the ,British coast with its execra-
ble Excise, allying itself with the famine, destruction,
and death that besiege us. We admire—almost wonder
at your perseverance in the object of your meeting—we
utterly despair of your success.
"We feel as though the Anti-Corn-law agitation had
done its utmost, thanks to the men that originated,
thanks to the energetic men that have worked, all thanks
to the men that have supported it. In Parliament all
has been said on the Corn-laws than can be said, and
said in the best manner ; but you hope still to
move its Honourable Members. They are immovable.
They will disregard your suppliant attitude. The
Houses of l'arliament, as at present occupied, are no
arena for the Corn-law controversy ; for ourselves we
would cease to wage it there. You think the public at-
tention will be roused by this meeting ; it is already
thoroughly and fearfully aroused. Your arguments are
known our empire through, and where no lecturers of
yours have been to stimulate the people, there eloquent
want and convincing hunger have been exciting them.
There are now no converts to be made, the minds of all
are made up, except of such as are neutral from
interest or incapacity. The Anti-Corn-law League
have done their most, and have been frustrated ;
we wait now the course of events. We look now
either for new measures on the part of the League,
or else for the uprising of some more power-
ful party. The condition of the inhabitants of
Hinckley may be understood from the following state-
ment:—out of all the stocking frames in Hinckley not more
than twenty are fully employed. One quarter of the
frames have two-thirds of what would be full employ-

ment ; another one-quarter of them have half employ-
ment ; the remaining half of the frames are laid down,
that is, are never used at all. Rather more than a fifth
of the houses in Hinckley are void at present ; half of the
number have been vacated within the last year. Last
year the parish of Hinckley paid 7s. I Id. in the I/. per
annum poor-rates ; while Sharnford, a parish in the
same union, chiefly, though not altogether agricultural,
paid Is. 3d. The rate-payers of Hinckley pay six times
heavier rates than do the rate-payers of Sharnford, in
the same union. There is scarcely enough work in
Hinckley to employ one-third part of the weavers. The
Members of the House of Commons were returned to
remedy this distress. After abortive attempts at its cure
no Hon. Members are justified in retaining their seats.
Since the session began popular suffering, far from sub-
siding, has increased. The present Members of Parlia-
ment have proved themselves incompetent to its miti-
gation. Still more unequal may we expect them to be
to the dread emergencies that are hastening on us. We
have, therefore, prayed them as simplest justice
either to relieve the people or to resign their seats; to
give the nation contentment, or to give them back their
trust. Fellow-sufferers we thank you for your fight
against the Corn-laws, but we think your cause is now
resolved into another case. Justice, palpable as noon-
day's unclouded light, has been denied us; in the Houses
of Parliament our famishing cries are drowned in the
shouts of defiance and untimely mirth. We look further
than the Corn-laws now. We suspect the soil on which
such a fungus flourishes. We doubt the purity of elec-
tions that represent a people as voting for themselves
famine and the consequent chances of pestilence. We
mistrust the really representative character of that
Parliament that maintains those many partial
laws of which the monstrous Corn and Provision
Acts are actually a fine sample, foul as they are. The
popular cause is taking a new shape ; another struggle
is preparing, to which that on the Corn-laws is
subordinate; the very principles that produced the
Corn-laws, are in question. The system itself that
sustains them is suspected—a national crisis is at hand,
_ _

monstrous as any dint British history records, in whose
magnitude the Corn-laws, and all other popular
.grievatices,, will ultimately be merged. Fellow-sufferers,
„be ready for, the new, direction that your efforts will have
1. to take. Doyou,,nat see yourselves, that Parliament is
impracticable ?—its-,Hon. Members were pledged to the
,Corn-laws,by ,their-, constituents ,but' a year ago ; they
seemed scarcely sensible of the country's Condition—so
At:type:ifs to 'us•from the,lfeartlessness' with' which they.
Aoubeiti.from' the toldnest ' with 'which they prescribe
rtier6 p'atieneo Wretehedness; the,
cruelty with 'Whiell they complain of the' kOopre's: cries,
iis',iiterruptiori to the' routine business, and trom
apathy "with Which' th 4 oniploY themselveS - about
Turnpike Bills, and minor matters, while every day of
this precious session, thousands of persons go, for the
first unwilling time, to the workhouse, tens of thou-
sands sit down to scantier and poorer meals, and millions
harden into sterner desperation.
" If this meeting be your last resource, we fear that it
is a hopeless one. If you find it such, say so; fearlessly,
say so to the world ; appeal then from the Parliament to
the people—from the Commons to the country—from
the powers that be, to that only source of just power in
England, the English nation.
"Fellow-sufferers, we wait with solicitude the result of
your meeting. We abide with anxiety, not un-
mingled with terror, the coming of the next few
months. We have great faith, however, in our
country, that, whatever may be her trials, she
may be found equal to it. Our country, whose physical
and moral resources are so vast, the genius of whose
o
hfe
owNlveho orolsedee,
ocean
nah ielwori
tsh conit
svastnesssstai
iotlufs
whoseeasn tdh crowds-
rmco thei m. d s-
people makes her artisans the teachers of the whole
carriersw
me u
e rt
ch e, tish,
hfeoi
rtetnh setheboldness
h
every port with its ships. Our country, for ages past an
asylum of Liberty in the earth, and within whose hear-
ing the wide world round scarcely a single battle has
been fought for, freedom in which some one or other of
her sons has not struck a blow for the good old cause.
We have faith too, with all reverence we say it, in that
Providence that laid the foundation of England's
greatness in the ocean's unfathomable depths, and
that lifted her thence, rich with mines below
and wisdom above, into her commanding position on the
seas; we have faith in the God of nations, who can over-
rule their calamities and revolutions for greater final
good—in the God who, through national hardship and
vicissistude, early trained the British people up for strug-
gle and success—in whose name, Magna Charta was
confirmed to the " Barons bold on Runnymede"—whom
the pure-minded Milton supplicated for freedom's cause
—of whose presence round him, the herollampden was
mindful when he died—who received the martyred Syd •
ney's parting spirit—and to whose eternal principles of
truth, justice, and,mercy, lies the patriarch's last appeal.
We are calm, but are determined ; conscious of difficulty,
but confident of our cause ; resolved on our rights, but
resolute on rightful means." (The reading of this ad-
dress was frequently interrupted by loud cheering.)
- The CHAIRMAN said the meeting would now proceed
to.the business of the day, which was to receive reports
of the distress which existed in different parts of the
country. He was proceeding to call the Rev. Mr. Bailey,
Delegate of Sheffield, when •
Mr. of Leicester, said he should be glad to
hear the programme of the plan of the Committee with
respect to future operations. They were all prepared to

make reports, but they wanted to know what should be I
done.—(Hear, hear.)
Mr. 0. THOMPSON said the Committee in their deli- •
berations yesterday had considered most carefully and
anxiously what steps it would be proper for the Con- ,
ference to pursue practically, with a view to obtaining
the object which had brought them together. They re-
solved upon several measures, and he would refer to
them in order to satisfy the meeting that they
had not ,been unmindful of the trust reposed
in them. They intended, in the course of the
day, to seek an interview with the Prime Minister of the
country, for the whole of the assembled Delegates, that
they might lay upon the conductor of the present Ad-
ministration the solemn and momentous responsibility k
of denying the prayer which, on behalf of a perishing
desperate people, they would on that occasion prefer if
the interview were granted. They had undertaken, also,
a more grateful task, that of applying to his Royal High-
ness the Duke of Sussex—(Cheers)—the liberality of
whoseepinions, both upon religious questions and ques-
tions concerning the personal and political liberty of the
subject, was too well known to require from him either
explanation or eulogy.—(Loud cheers.) It was intended
to seek on behalf of the Deputies, through their estimable
Chairman, an interview with the Royal Duke. He did
not know whether he was at liberty to state at
that moment what was the precise object of that inter-
view. It had.reference to something more than the mere
laying before his Royal Highness the state of the coun-
try; it was intended, through the Royal Duke, to seek
an opportunity of laying a statement of the grievances of
those whom they represented at the feet of a higher Per-
sonage in the realm, who, they believed, shared in the
feelings of compassion, and in the views of sound national
policy which were cherished by her revered relative.—
(Loud cheers.) The answer to their applications would
be laid before the meeting the moment they ar-
rived.—(Hear, hear.) With respect to other mea-
sures, it had been resolved in the Executive Com-
mittee to have a meeting of Delegates as early as pos-
sible, for the purpose of considering maturely what
means still remain to be adopted of a constitutional and
proper character for the attainment of their object—
means which had not hitherto been resorted to, but
which promised, by the adoption and application of
them, to work out the end which they had in view. It
was intended that that meeting should be of a strictly
private character ; that they sought the fullest opportu-
nity of stating their views in the present crisis. To that
meeting every Delegate would be invited. He hoped
that the Delegates who were now anxious to have some
plan at once adopted, would attend at that meeting, and
state what, in their opinion, was the best plan which
could be pursued.—(Cheers.)
A conversation ensued with reference to the propriety
of hearing the statements from Sheffield and other
places, several gentlemen in the room proposing that
the meeting should proceed at once to the discussion of
ulterior measures, instead of hearing of additional distress.
At length it was agreed that the Delegates should pro-
ceed with their statements until two o'clock, when the
meeting should proceed to the discussion of future ope-
rations. _ _

The Rev. Mr. BAILEY, of Sheffield, then addressed
the meeting. He quite sympathised with the impa-
tience which was manifested at the prospect of hearing
further recitals of distress. He would not, therefore,
trouble the meeting with all the harrowing details
which had come into his possssion, but would merely
state results, and add to them a few remarks. When
he was requested to attend the Conference he issued an
address to the working classes, requesting such as were
suffering from the want of employment to send in their
names, ages, and number of their families, trade, and
wages in 1838 and in 1842, leaving a column for what-
ever remarks they chose to add. In the course of 4or 5
days he received 2,156 statements from working and unem-
ployed men, who, with 150 exceptions, were all heads ?f
families. He would not trouble the meeting with this
statement, as it would probably appear before
the public through some other medium. The dis-
tress in Sheffield now extended to every branch
of its trade. He held in his hand a list which showed
the reduction in the wages received by various operatives
then as compared with the wages received in 1838. He
ha 4 selected for the comparison the year 1838, because
that was felt to be a period of distress, and wages were
then supposed to have reached their minimum.
But he found, in looking over the list before him, that
many operatives who in 1838 were earning 205., 255.,
305., or more, were now earning sums varying from ss.
to Bs. or 10s. He had inquired into the case's of 2,156
families, amounting to upwards of 10,000 individuals,
whose wages had of late declined, and who were suffer:
ing under the pressure of severe distress. It should be
observed that the decline in the trade of Sheffield was
not owing to the introduction of machinery, because the
manufacturers there employed very little machinery
now, which had not been in use fifty years ago. In
fact, the only important article of machinery
in use in Sheffield was the steam-engine, which
drove their wheels, and which had been in use for
nearly half a century. The distress in Sheffield could
not, therefore, be in any way traced to the introduction
of new machinery throwing various hands out of employ-
ment, as was alleged to be the case in other districts. He
had ascertained the particulars of various cases of distress
in the town he represented, but there were many others
which had escaped his inquiries. There were several
operatives who refused to communicate to him the his-
tory of their sufferings; they told him they knew his in-
tentions were charitable, but as they thought his ener-
gies were made with a view to petitioning Par-
liament, they refused to enterinto any disclosures. " It was
not words," they said," w ould move Parliament, but force
they should have if they did not change their system."
That was no doubt violent language, but it was not the
oppressed but the oppressors that would be answerable
for the consequences of the excitement created by the
sufferings endured under our present legislation. He
should mention that all the money he had stated to b-2
now received by operatives at the present day, was not
paid in wages ; but that a considerable portion was
received either out of the poor rates, or out of charitable
contributions. The decline of wages, was of course, felt
by the shopkeepers, because so much floating capital
ceased to circulate among them. He had ascertained
that in a number of cases into which he had inquired,
there were 6,0001. a week less paid in wages during the
present year than in former periods ; awl that would
give a yearly diminution of 300,0001. All that money
was withdrawn from the shopkeepers ; and that ac-
counted for the change in their condition. The poor did
not in general attribute their distress to the Corn-laws,
but to the influence of class legislation ; and thousands
of them looked to the Charter as the only remedy for
the evils under which they suffered.—(Hear, hear.) The
Sunday-schools were now comparatively deserted. He
had scarcely found a single case in which those schools
were as numerously attended during the present year as
in the year 1838. Large sums had been of late contri-
buted out of the funds of the Trades Unions towards
the relief of the distressed. He had been informed by a

person thoroughly conversant with the state of those
Unions, that they had in the course of a very short time paid
upwards of 30,0001. towards the relief of the destitute ;
and thus was the appearance of independence kept up
by the noble efforts of their brethren.—Cheers.) Ma-
chinery, as he had already said, was not the source of
the evil; and there could be no doubt but that a repeal
of the Corn-laws would tend greatly to diminish
it. A gentleman in the room, Mr. Ibbotson, a
man well known in Yorkshire and in Lancashire,
had told him that if the Corn-laws were repealed, he
should be able to-morrow to find employment for 500
fresh hands.—(Hear, hear.) The charitable contribu-
tions of individuals could never effectually meet the pre-
vailing distress. It was not charity the people wished
for ; charity was the most expensive mode of satisfying
the general wants.—(Hear, hear.) Charity ! Why
the wealth of the nation might be expended in
charity, and yet leave the evil greater at its
close than at its commencement.— (Hear, hear.)
He had ascertained that among the young men of Shef-
field—among that class who formed the hope of every
nation—there were now 154 thrown by necessity on the
parish;
.and working on the highway. The want of
food Would inevitably destroy the feelings and the cha-
racter of our population. Man was a physical, as
well as a spiritual animal ; and the mind decayed
-if the body= was left a prey to hunger. In such a state of
destitution, as he had described, he wanted to know how
menvoUld 'retain :thee doineStib virtue. He had himself
known theettsto/ofa anal' whose wants wererelieved, but
relieved at the expense' of the honour of his, wife.—
(Cries of " Shame.") The lessons of religion would be
preached in vain to men pre-engaged with alarms of
bankruptcy. or with the horrors of actual distress.
It was the duty of every good citizen to strive to obtain
a remedy for the evils under which the country now suf-
fered. As a minister of religion he should be unwilling
, in
to minglethe present contest ; but how was he to
avoid coming forward when the people were starving ?
—(Hear, hear.) While he witnessed the distress
which everywhere met his eyes, he felt compelled to
say that he cared little for the laws of etiquette ;
the higher and more imperious laws of sterling humanity
required of them all to be at their posts.—(Cheers.) It
was true that they were not sent there by men whose
voices they had bought—(Hear)—but he had no hesita-
tion in saying that they more truly represented the
people of England than if they were their more legal
representatives, like the present House of Commons.
There was a time when Sir Robert Peel might have
been a great man. Providence threw in the way of that
little man one golden occasion, when he could have be-
come the saviour of his country. But he had neglected
the golden opportunity- He had heard a multitude of
the poor wish maledictions on the head of Sir Robert
Peel, which he had rather die of famine than hear men
wish upon his own head. He heard of a gentleman,
who in private company said, that if 100 persons cast
lots, and the lot should fall upon him, he would take the
lot to deprive Sir Robert Peel of life. He felt
convinced that no such attempt ought to be made under
any pretence whatever ; but he was persuaded of this,
that when he, Sir R. Peel, went to his grave, there would
be but few to shed one tear over it. Something must be
done, but what that something was it was not for him to
say. "Unless the great bodies of the people whom
they represented were prepared to act with them they had
no part to act; Truth, however, must prevail. The truth
of the political doctrine, that the Corn-laws were an inva-
. sion of the people's rights, that the monopoly of the suffrage
was another invasion of the people's rights, must neces-
sarily, before long, be established. The master mono-
poly, which involved all the
eat minorst one
the es, must fall ; and
when .it did come down, gr
mu
Mr.
W. IBBOTSON said, it had been resolved at the
b f.
Committee last evening, that gentlemen should confine
themselves to such statistics as they had brought with
them: That
,-being the ,ase, he had little to say, as the
most impcirta t'clOcuments he had to communicate had
been laid before the Anti-Corn-law League on a previous
occasion. He might perhaps be allowed to refer' briefly
to thorn, as they conveyed a more correct view of the
condition of the people in Sheffield than anything he
could state of himself. He would first direct their at-
tention to the casual list of the poor. In 1836 the quarterly
amount of the casual list was 1621. In 1837 ,in the commence-

ment of the'year,it increased to 240/. ; and towards the cloS'e
of the y6f, lit dotibtittencg of the panic in the American
market, it increased to 960/1 .th the years 1838 and i;.:.39 it
fell, but in the year 1840 the effecti verb itrt,ain
,felt of
the inability of the Americans to pay for the rirlicl.q of
commerce which they had formerly got, or to continue
their commerce with us, and the consequent want of em-
ployment amongst our operatives,and the casual list rose to
2,0001. In the year 1841 it averaged about 1,600/or 1,8001.;
and in the first quarter of the present year the amount
increased to 2,235/. Let them consider this. The
casual list, which in 1836 was on 162/. per quarter, in-
creased in the year 1842 to 2,235. in the first quarter,
and in the quarter ending the present week to 4,2531. ;
and there was every reason to believe that it would
rapidly increase. The number of men capable
of working who had applied for relief in the quarter
ending March 19, 1826, was 316, which increased to
984 for the corresponding quarter in the year 1836. Since
that period the increase was progressing and would con-
tinue to progress till something was done by the Go-
vernment to alleviate the distress of the people.
Mr.? Ibbotson here read an extract from a pam•
phlet published by him about ten or twelve
years ago on this subject, which showed that
the distress he foretold, as the consequence of the
system then pursued by Government, had resulted from
that; system, and then went on to say, that though the
people of England were a most loyal people, yet that
the destitution which they suffered would soon put that
loyalty to a test, which he feared they could not bear.
Atter some further remarks upon the prosperity which
would result to this country if Government would create
laws that would enable us to exchange our manufactures
for the agricultural productions of America. Mr. Ibbot-
son concluded by stating aat something must be done
to remedy the present evils of the country, or the con-
sequences would be most awful.
The Rev. Mr. BONNER, of Bilston, said that he per-
fectly sympathised with Mr. Bailey of Sheffield in his
feeling of not wishing to be here. He (Mr. Bonner) had
attended the Conference of Ministers at Manchester,
solely on account of the great and extensive dis-
tress that prevailed in his own neighbourhood.
He had also attended the Conference held
last February at London, and on neither of these
occasions was it his desire to be present ; his incline-
nations did not lead him to take part in such assemblies
of the people, but the distresses of the people compelled
him to overcome his feelings and attend to further the
good cause—the cause of charity and of the people.
Neither had he any desire to take part in
the present proceedings, but the same sense of
duty which had prevailed with him previously,
operated on him new. To detail the distresses
of the people, calamitous and extreme as he
knew them to be, were a task he was not equal to
It was a task which fairly nonplused him. He
knew that among the people the feeling pre-
' veiled that any agitation on the subject would
be attended with little or no good effect.
The people had ceased to regard steps such as the
present movement leading to any remedy for
the sufferings which encompassed them. He felt
bound to state that he knew men of good princi-
ples, religious men, who entertained these sentiments.
He had heard many persons say that no good could be
done until they rioted—until they rose; he had laboured
hard to keep those feelings down, but he knew that
those ,feelings existed. In the Wolverhampton
district, there were 134 blast furnaces, of these
sixty-two were at the present moment idle, each
of those employed 160 persons, and thus there
were 10,000 persons at present out of employment.
There were a number of iron mills in that neighbour-
hood, which employed about from 200 to 300 hands
each. The majority of these were now idle. The Japan
trade was in a dreadful state. One master was now work-
ing for 50 per cent. less than he had done three years ago,
of course he could not employ the same number of hands,
and destitution would consequently be increased: In
his town there were at the present moment 130 honest
labouring men breaking stones in the work house. He
had heard of a vice-maker, who had been anything
but a poor man, but who was now a very
poor one. He had been seeking for a job,
and at length had procured one, which would bring him
in about 10s., but he had not money sufficie.it
to purchase the iron. A friend of his (Mr. Bon-
ners) let him have the iron, and went to see
him at his work. There was another working with
him. They both seemed much exhausted, and, when
pressed, admitted, that they had had nothing to eat
from Thursday morning until that time, which was Sa-
turday morning. A jeweller told him that within the last
10 weeks he had purchased 14 or 15 wedding rings, which
had been brought to him by mothers of families, to pro-
cure food for their children ; they were not pledged, but
sold, because the parties had no hope of ever being able
to redeem them. The general feeling in the minds of the
working classes was of a most awful description. In
Bilston and its neighbourhood there were 29 furnaces,
15 of those were out of work, and the number of unem-
ployed in that town could not 'be less than 3,000. The
workhouse was so full that the guardians were obliged to
have beds made on the floor, and the old poor-house at
Bradley had been ordered to be repaired for their recep-
tion. At one of the works at Bradley, which formerly
employed 180 persons, only ten were now employed. It
was important that these things should be known.—
(Cheers.) He considered the Bible the great director in
matters of political economy. The great Scripture doc-
trine of truth was that God had constituted the whole
human race as one family—that the doctrine of patrio-
tism, the doctrine of local attachment, was a fallacy,
that the whole world was his country, and all the inha-
bitants thereof his countrymen--(Cheers)—that God
had made provision for the whole human race, irrespec-
tive of local situations—(Cheers)—that he had provided
abundance, and had given rain, and snow; and sunshine,
not to enhance the rents of the landlords, but to give
breast to the eater, and seed to the sower.—(Cheers.)
What were the Corn-laws but a tax upon the rain, and
snow, and sunshine of Heaven—(Cheers)---a counterac-
tion of the gifts of a gracious God? Solomon's temple
had been built by free trade. Everything that tended
to counteract God's arrangements was sinful. The
Corn-laws interfered with God's purposes, therefore
they were sin.—(Loud cheers.) 'I he Book of Job dis-
tinctly stated that to withhold bread from the hungry
was great wickedness, and infinite iniquity.--:(Loud
cheers.) It was the duty of every Christian, more espe-
cially of every Christian minister, to take a decided
stand against monopoly—(Cheers)—to plead the misery
of the poor and needy, and to deliver them out of the
hands of the wicked. The country was on the brink
of a volcano, and unless the ocean of commerce was
turned in upon it, it would burst, and spread desolation
on the aristocracy and every other portion of society.
He trusted, however, that God would avert such a
calamity. The time was now come, when something
must be done. Some proposed to go to the Queen,
others to refuse payment of the Income-tax. He did
not recommend the latter course ; he believed the law
would not let him ; but he hoped Sir Robert Peel might
got a good Income-tax—over the left.—(Cheers and
laughter.) He hoped, however, that the Corn-laws
would be repealed, and that England would rise like a
giant refreshed, and the cry of starvation would be nor
longer heard.—(Loud cheers.)
(The meeting was not concluded when we went to press.)

COMPROMISE COMMITTEES.
(THIS DAY.)
BELFAST.

The Committee met this morning at eleven o'clock,
anti resumed the inquiry. The first witness called was
Mr. Henry Garrett, an attorney, who was profession-
ally employed during the election. He recollected
an application being made to' strike out the name
of Donnelly, as they had papers proving his
death. A legal objection to the application was taken
by Mr. Napier, but it was ruled against him. All the
improper votes recorded on the Liberal side were about 40.
He considered the system of registration in Belfast was
very defective. There could be ne doubt every respect-
able man in Belfast would wish to see it altered, as it
held out a great temptation to fraud.
The evidence of this witness closed the part of the in-
quiry relating to personation. The remaining evidence
was on the cases of bribery.
After the examination of several other witnesses,
Mr. BATE said he had already made an application for
witnesses to go into a case of recrimination. He
was certain that he could show that the complaining
panics in this case were the guilty ones ; but he felt
that he should not raise the character of the community
for which he :acted, if he pursued the application for
witnessses for such an object.
The CHAIRMAN interrupted Mr. Bate, by reminding
him that he could not allude to anything he was not
prepared to prove. If he wished for time to consider his
determination, the Committee was ready to grant it.
The room was again cleared, and on the parties being
re-admitted, _

Mr. BATE said he should not call any witnesses.
The CHAIRMAN then said the case was closed on both
sides, and the Committee adjourned till one o'clock on
Friday.
Before the Committee separated, Mr. Dobbin, who
had been alluded to by one of the witnesses, begged
positively to deny that he had ever offered the man 201.
for his vote.

SOUTHAMPTON.
The Committee met at the usual hour. The Hon.
J. S. WORTLEY in the Chair.
Mr. HEATIN informed the Committee, in reference to
what had fallen from Mr. Shiel, that he looked over the
debate in the House of Commons, and the_Lrst time the
memorandum-book was spoken of was on the 30th May.
Thoimas Barnes and Thomas Perkins were the only
two witnesses examined ; and there being no other wit-
nesses in attendance, the Committee adjourned.

MA IL COMMUNICATION WITH THE SOUTH OF IRE -
LAND.—We hear that the Committee appointed to inquire into
the above subject have reported favourably of Brean, near
Uphill, in the Bristol Channel, as a packet station. A deputa-
tion sent down to the view the spot arrived at Brean, by rail-
way, in the short space of five hours, and were very favourably
impressed with its advanfages.—Bristol Mercury.
FIGHT BETWEEN JOHNNY WALKER AND NED
ADAMS FOR 200/.—Yesterday a prize fight for the above sum
took place in a field near Bracknell, in Berkshire, between
Johnny Walker and Ned Adams, both belonging to the London
ring. After fighting forty-two rounds in one hour and a half,
Adams being severely punished, Walker was declared the
victor. Walker was the favourite during the contest, the odds
being five to two on him.
IN CREASE OF PRESBYTERIANISM.—A Presbyterian
congregation has just been founded, in connexion with the
Church of Scotland, in the midst of the Roman Catholic
population of Tempo, in the county of Fermanagh. The mem-
bers of it are chiefly amongst the tenantry on the estates of
Mr. Emerson Tennent, the late Member for Belfast, who has
generously made a grant, rent free, of one of the most eligible
sites in the town of Tempo for the erection of a house of wor-
ship,—Dublin Evening Mail.
Zachariah Pacha, who recently commanded a divi-
sion in Syria, died, after a lingering illness, of intestinal
mortification, at his villa upon the Bosphorus. The Sultan
has :ast the services of a good officer.

LAW INTELLIGENCE.
QUEEN'S tiENCH,-(THIS DAY.)
Sitting; in London, before the Lord Cktiar JUSTICE and a
Special Jury.)
SCARNILT V. RICE.
This was ttii attlbtt ttpon a pron;issory note for LON., to
which the defence was i 6.lisideration. The case was of no
interest. lhe jury found for die plaintiff.

COMMON PLEAS—(T S DAY.)
(Sittings in London. before the LORD CIIIEP Juszicz and a
Special Jury.)
NICHOLLS V. THE LONNA eADSITCHOCC COMPANY.
This is an action for an infringetnetit of a patent for the
making cf elastic braid. The case occupied the whole day.

CRIMINAL COURT.-(THIS DAY.)
OLD COURT.
(Before Mr. Baron ALDERSON and Justice NVILLIAMS. ) •
TRIAL OF NIcHOLAS SUlSSE.—Nicholas Suisse was placed
at the bar, charged for that he, being in the employment of the
late 111arquis of Hertford, did receive by virtue of his employ-
ment on the Ist of July the sum of 4001., on the 7th of July
400/., on the 9th of July 500/., on the 23d Nova mber four se-
curities of the value of 200/., on the Ist March 1,258 francs,
and a variety of other moneys, at different times, whilst in the
employment of his late master; parts of which moneys, amount-
ing in the whole to 1,5001., he did unlawfully embezzle to his
own use. The indictment was varied in a variety of ways, and
contained several counts.
The prisoner pleaded " Not Guilty" to the whole of the
indictments.
The prisoner being a foreigner, exercised the privilege of
having half the Jury foreigners.
Mr. KELLY, with whom were Messrs. nitwits and Bon-
KIN, conducted the prosecution, and Mr. T_HESIGER, M.P.,
with whom were Messrs. CLARKSON and JAxEs, defended the
prisoner.
Mr. KELLY having stated the case to the Jury in a concise
manner, confining himself strictly to the facts, proceeded to
call the following witnesses.
R. Carre, examined by Mr. PHILLIPS—I am a cashier in
the house of Messrs. Coutts and Co. The late Marquis kept
an account at our house. I knew the prisoner. I saw him on
the 3d of February of the present year. He presented a cheque
for 3,0001. which I paid to him. I gave him one note, No.
54,307, for 3001. (The witness here proceeded to state the
manner in which lie had paid the money.) On the 9th of
February I also paid him money for cheques. The body of
the cheques were all in the handwriting of the Marquis of
' Hertford.
Cross-examined by Mr. THESIGER—I have been in the
employ of Messrs. coutts and Co. fur many years, and have
been in the habit of seeing the prisoner there for ten years,
during which time he received very large amounts on the Mar-
quis's cheques. I should this& he has received as much as
20,000/. or 30,000/. in the course of a year. I never remem-
ber paying any printed cheques.
John Blenkinsopp examined by Mr. BODKIN—I am a clerk
at Messrs. Coutts and Co. On the 3d of February the prisoner
presented a cheque for 2,0001. I paid the whole sum in Bank
of England notes. On the 7th of February, 1842, the pri-
soner presented a cheque for 3,500/. (The witness here pro-
ceeded to state the number of the notes with which he had paid
the cheque.)
Cross-examined by Mr. THESIGER—Suisse was as well
known at the banking-house as any clerk in its establishment.
Thomas Graham examined by Mr. KELLY—I am a stock-
broker, residing at No. 6, Throgmorton-street. I have known
the prisoner about three years. On the 21st or July Suisse
sent for me, and I went to him to Dorchester-street. He gave
me 2,0001. in notes, and instructed me to purchase stock with
it in his own name. (Witness identified a 500/. note as one
which he received, which corresponded with one paid to Suisse
boy the first witness.) I paid the notes into my barkers' hands,
Joins, Lloyd, and Co., on the same day.
Cross-examined by 111 r. THESIGER—I found the prisoner
unwell when I arrived at Dorchester House. I saw him in his
bed-room. I sent up my name, not my business. The bed-
room was a very small room up-stairs. I do not know whether
it was near the Marquis's room. I had purchased stock for
him before on three occasions to the amount altogether of
2,0001. The first purchase was on the 13th March, 1841,
307/. 6s. ; the second on 26th November, 1841, 1,192/. 14s. ;
and the third on the 30th November, 1841, to the amount of
5001. There had been dividends on the stack, which I re-
ceived for him.
John Hay examined by Mr. BODKIN—I am cashier at
Jones, Lloyd, and Co.'s. The last witness had an account:with
our house. On the 21st February last Mr. Graham paid in
2,0001. in notes, which I handed over to John Lyon.
John Lyon examined by. Mr. BODKIN—I am a clerk at
Messrs. Jones, Lloyd, and Co.'s bank I have an entry of
2,0001. paid in by Mr. Graham on the 21st July. Mr. Walter
took the numbers of the notes, and I handed them over to him.
Wm. Walter examined by Mr. BODKIN.—I am a clerk at
Messrs. Jones, Lloyd, and Co.'s. I took the numbers of the
notes. (The witness then read the numbers and dates of the
notes, which corresponded with those paid by the first witness to
the prisoner.)
John Rabbit examined by 111 r. PHILLIPS.—I am in the fo-
reign department at Messrs. Coutts and Co.'s. I know the pri-
soner. On the 7th July last he gave me 4001. to be forwarded
to Madame Suisse. The money consisted of four notes of
100/. each. I handed them to Mr. Stanley, one of our cashiers.
Cross-examined—l knew Suisse before. I never received
money before to transmit to Madame Suisse. There is an-
other clerk who receives money in the foreign department.
Edward William Stanley examined by Mr. PHILLIPS-1 am
cashier at Messrs. Coutts'a. On the 7th of February I received
four 100/. notes from the last witness. The numbers were
96,702, 96,703, 96,704, and 96,705, and all dated the sth of
February, 1841.
William Hughes Brabant examined by Mr. KELLY—I am
a partner in the firm of Capron and Co. They are solicitors
to the late Marquis's executors. The late Marquis's
name was Francis Charles. I frequently called on the
late Lord Hertford. He was very unwell during the last
few weeks of his life. I always used to see him in the library.
He slept in the room adjoining. He died on the Ist of March,
and was buried about a fortnight afterwards. The executors
at once proceeded to their duties. I had occasion to see Suisse
on the 4th of April. He came to my office about eleven o'clock
in the day. Some of the executors were in another room in
my office. Suisse came of his own accord ;he had not been
sent for. When the prisoner arrived, he saw me and asked
permission to go to Paris. I went into the room where the
executors were, and told them what he wanted. 'They told
me to ask him to return io half an hour. told him to do so.
He went away and returned, saying he would go for his passport.
During his absence I had communicated with the executors.
When he returned I called his attention to the sum of 9,200/.
which he had received on Lord Hertford's cheques between the
Ist and 9th of February. I asked him how the sum had been
applied. He stated that he had credited in his book what he
wanted for current expenses, and gave the rest into my Lord's
hands. I have that book here. I expressed some surprise
at his statement ; he then said that the account which he had
sent to 31r. Capron's would explain how the greater part
had been applied, and that Charlemagne, the cook, had re-
ceived about 2,000/. more. I asked him how he got
the money to pay the bill, and he said that lie went to
my Lord for it, and got sufficient fur the purpose.
That was all he said on the subject of the application of the
money. He then renewed his request to go to Paris. I told
him the executors could not permit him to go till he had ac-
counted for the money. He complained of the hardship of
being detained, saying that " his health had suffered already
from being confined in so small a room as he had at Dorchester
House." He added, " that he wished the executors would
name a day when he might go." I then went and detailed to
the executors what had taken place, and returned to
him, telling him that the executors could only repeat
their request, that he would remain till his accounts
were settled. He appeared very angry, and said he had
been twice nearly dead in Lord Hertford's service,
and he would not kill himself a third time for those gentle-
men. He talked of putting a pistol to his head rather than do
it, and said that, in spite of the executors, he would go if his
health got worse. I made no reply to this. He pressed a set-
tlement of his account, as he wanted money to pay his passage,
and was living on borrowed money. When he found he could
not succeed in his application, he left. (The book of the pri-
soner's expenses was here handed in.) I had this book in my
poss ssion during the meeting I have just described. The pri-
soner said that he credited in that book the sum that he wanted
for current expenses. I have the account of which he spoke
as having paid. I have cast up those accounts. The sum total
is 5,058/. 19s. sd. I don't know the amount of wages the
prisoner received.
Cross-examined by Mr. THEsicka—When I saw the Mar-
quis at Dorchester House. I never saw Mr. Croker, who
was afterwards an executor, with the Marquis. I saw the
Marquis last about a month before his death. Mr. Capron
was the partner who principally transacted the Marquis's busi-
ness. Suisse's room was close to the library, on the other side
of it, corresponding to the Marquis's room, the library being
between the two rooms. There was access to Suisse's room
from down stairs, without going through the library. I was
present during part of the time that the executors took posses-
sion of the Marquis's property. I do not know when Mr. Capron
received the bills to which Suisse referred as having paid. All
1 know about them is, that when the prisoner referred to
the bills, I went to the executors and received them
from them. There were bills for preceding years, as well as
bills of a later date. Ido not know what is the amount of the bills
of preceding years. I think they are to the amount of many
thousand pounds. I have not taken the Marquis's pass-book
and compared the amount of cheques received by Suisse in for-
mer years. I was directed to keep aloof from the prosecution,
as I was informed that I was to be a witness. That is the
reason that I confined any attention to the bills only of the pre-
sent year. I cannot say whether there were any bills of 1841
paid in 1842, prior to the Ist of February. Ido not know how
long this book before spoken of had been in the possession of
the executors.
(Mr. Turtsicska, observing Mr. Hopkinson in communica-
tion with Mr. Kelly, requested that the witnesses on both sides
should leave the Court, which caused a considerable clearance.)
Cross-examination continued—l had seen the book in the
possession of the executors some days before the interview with
Suisse which I have described. I am not aware that Suisse
had pressed for a settlement in the month of March. I cannot
say what was the amount of bills paid between the lat and 7th
February. I cannot say what was the latest payment. In my
interview with Suisse he said that the tradesmen's bills would
account for a great part of the money. I then brought the
bills down. They were labelled, bills of 1838 paid in 1839,
bills of 1839 paid in 1840, and so on up to bills of 1841 paid in
1842.. Those labels, I believe, were in the handwriting of the
prisoner. I know that Suisse was in the entire confidence of
the Marquis. I know nothing of any private disbursements
that Suisse paid for the Marquis. I have got Charlemagne's
bo ik. I do'nt know where he is.
Re-examined-4 did rot look through the bulls for any other
purpose than to sum up the amounts, and have not minutely
looked into the details. I now produce all the bills in my pos-
session, and I know of no other bills. (The bills were all
handed in, and were then given to a person to ascertain the
amounts paid in fot mer years.) Mr. Hopkinson was the exe-
cutor who attended mainly to the bills.
George Capron examined by Mr. KELLY—I am the head
of the firm of the Solicitors to the late Marquis, and the
present executors. I never looked into the bills. Mr. Hop-
kinson, one of the executors, having undertaken the manage-
ment of the accounts. I think the bills were delivered to the
executors some few days before the 4th of April when the in-
terview took place between Suisse and the last witness.
Edmund Hopkinson examined by Mr. KELLY—I was a
banker of the firm of Hopkinson and Co. We were bankers to
the late Lord Hertford. I undertook to examine certain bills
paid by N. Suisse, which were sent to Mr. Capron's office
from Dorchester House, a few days before the 4th of April.
I investigated those bills, and summed them up. When I had
done with them, I placed them upon apiece of furniture in the
executors' room in Mr. Capron's office. I have no bills paid
later than the 9th of February, 1842. I know of no other
bills, but those which appear. Ido not know Suisse's hand-
writing.
Cross-examined by Mr. Cita maras—l went to Dorchester
House two or three days after the Marquis's death. I have
heard that Sir. Croker was in the house when the Marquis
died, and had been living there a day or two previous to his
death. Ido not think it was mentioned to Suisse in my pre-
sence that a legacy to the amount of 19 or 20,0001. had been
left to him. To the best of my belief such a statement was not
made to Suisse in my presence. Suisse dues not speak Engli,h
very fluently.
Inspector Partridge, of the A Division, examined by Mr.
PHILLIPS-1 remember going, on the 4th of April, between 7