The Sun.
London, England, 1845-12-16 00:00:00

THE SUN, LONDON, TUESDAY EVENING, bECEMBER•

~~:.,

AMERICAN NEWS.

LivERPOOL, MONDAY MORNING.—The arrival of
the
evtrYork packet-ship Hottinguer, Captain Burs-
ti late last night, has put us in pssession of pa-
tears from that city to the 21st ult., her day of sail-
tint do not, however, contain any news of
diPortance. The auxiliary screw-steamer, Massa-
191It!Etts arrived at Holmes-Hole, Nantucket, on the
" instant., having put in there owing to the
12148 of the Captain. The Britannia's news was
"uurly
xpected in New York when the Hottinguer
as she ha.l been telegraphed off Boston the day
The
following
h are extracts from the papers
FOR SEDUCTION.—At the Monmouth, J
th",:,:nt, just
closed, the case of " Rogers v. hins," for
diet,ction of plaintiff's daughter,' resulted in a vex.-
11,000 dollars.
th(11,11c FLORIDA ELECTION.—Mr. Cabell, the Whig
!"at'i h2s got his certificate of election, as the law
i lures that the Governor shall certify within thirty
t 4: 'Per the election who has a majority of the re-
tett.e" !Wee. Mr. Cabell was found to have 69 more
%alined than Mr. Brockenburgh, who, however, has a
majority of the whole vote cast in the State.
Op
,I%u
.ItIIDIARY ATTE3IPTS.—Four attempts were made
4,4ursday
and Friday evenings to set fire to butll-
140," a combustible character,- in the vicinity of
4.11.b's and Coleman's Hotels, in Washington.
tki:ll3 LE FOR OLE Bum..—Tbe Home Missionary
Itifie:l of Philadelphia presented Ole Bull with a mag-
ttittreeiation
tpp -nt Bible on Saturday last, as a testimony of the
14 the of his kindness, in giving a gratuitous con-
The poor.
taße, ?t. Louis New Era makes the following strange
tfreisttl". We hardly think it will be carried into,
',mitt would be a fatal advertisement for some M.D.
f:
the tin marriage notices, it is usual to give the name of
tualer
g.7l3ean who performed the ceremony, and w
tekli Pr°Priet in obituar notices the name of the at-
ng physician should by e given."
FRENCH
C R PLAYS—ST. JAMES'S

Let THEATRE.
IN °antes •S' a ratites, that admirable comedy of Moliere,
th,Preduced here last evening in a style worthy of the
Nit Poet of France. We doubt whether even the
Pet, re Prancais itself ceuld have given a more c
lk, iSPprcsetitation of Les Femmes Savantes than did
414„,sellgttiy of Mr. Mitchell last evening ; and be it
Nai:utred, the comedy was acted solely by members of
noa: companies—there were no stars. Chrisal,-, the
tWioblunt citizen, who understands not " the
dif-
°f knowledge," was excellently acted by M.
,Nit(-ehe,Y,l and his daughter, Henrietta, who is
P,ltitt;`ect with being a pretty without as-
Aaqh,t° be an angel, was sustained to the life by
kbto-"eiallio St. Marc. Madame Durnery, as nil:I-
N... 1 Mademoiselle Martelleur, as Amande ; and
klitc'te Croset, as Eelise the old maid aunt, were all
EuthMe Lcs Femmes 'Savara-s ; and Mademoiselle
kostl'n't;e Albert as Martine, the excellent, but ungram-
-4 ,04,'4outrett-, was everything that could be desired.
kekreq, as Trissotin, the faux bel esprit, was the very
thtechti- n of learned ignorance and presumptuous bad
kl?.tta'she was the hero of a French Dunciad, who
atlel into bathos de per gaite de occur; and..
,°Y Artil his rival, was sustained with much spirit
45tC: Narcisse. M. Pagenier, that great man
11111,,a1i parts, was very quaint as Julien. His manner
f:tting up the book, in the face of Philaminte
in
tke.t,-,Orth act, was superb. It is delightful to see this
tatilhllent old comedy which is but an earlier phase of the
tri,"at between the ideal and the real which is still
leatl On even at the present day, so excellently repre
4417' and with such an efficient corps. W e
' that Mr. Mitchell will make this only the
Ittan, of sgries of revivals of the legitimate French
1011r0,4' There are many other comedies of Moliere
otea." ihe could cast excellently ; for instance, Le
,thoh-,lllfrope, Tar tuffe, L' Avare. But Moliere, al-
Iltkr the greatest, is not the only French legitimate
Lekatist—Beaumarchais is perhaps as great, a.id would
4ire Popular. Mr. Mitchell has already given us Le
Ititti.,a9e de Figaro; could he not also give us that most
kof French prose comedies, Le Bet; bier de Seville ?
the,„ which would be quite new to the English public—
ikr,,tripletion of the trilogy—the moral of the , Barber
"43 Marriage, the greatest of Beaurawchais works,
ttaCAf ere Coupable. With his present company be could
Pal 4 excellently • it would be quite new to the English.
Georges,
arid it could' not but succeed. The Cheva •de
*6O e'rges, with Laront as the Chevalier, and Rhozevi ,
Tau 'ooked and acted exceedingly well as Le Baron de
heasttille, concluded the evening's entertainment. The
e Was crowded.

Iv, COURT CIRCULAR.
NIL-14380R ' MONDAY.—The Queen and Prince Albert
-ed this afternoon in the pleasure-grounds adjacent
'Pk° Castle.
krrni Ryal Hihneses the Price of Wale!, Prince
tikitt4., r theo Princessg Royal, and then Princess Alice, were
1111. Au airing this afternoon.
146.11,4ce Albert left the Castle at a quarter before nine
Ike-"' this mornin for the Slough station, en route per
ihmstal train to Paddington, and from thence to Buck-
-1474A41 Palace. Majo'r•Gneral Sir Edward Bowater,
Ititi'lim'son. and Colonel Bowles, were in attendance on
ititais?Yal Highness. The Prince returned at a quarter-
two o'clock to the Castle.
e4tm Earl of Liverpool and Sir Henry Wheatley are
Wted to arrive at the Castle on a visit to her Maj'sty.
erne royal dinner party at the Castle this evening will
he 1-4 her 11,,,yal Highness the Duchess of Kent and
Gei,r adY in Waiting, the Baroness de Speth, and Mr.
Tlge Edward and the Hon. Mrs. Anson.
dli;," band of the Grenadier Guards will attend during
Ith-a.ler• Her Majesty's private band will afterwards at-
-4 At the Castle.
'

1111.erinoe Albert arrived at Buckingham Palace yester-
kir ttlorning from Windsor Castle, attended by Sir E.
Oter, Mr.i G. E. Anson, and Colonel Bowles. His
Highness went to the office of the Duchy of Corn-
the In Somerset House, and afterwards proceeded to
tqk ,_.ddington terminus of the Great Western Railway,
return to Windsor Castle.
,r
At; h6r Royal Highnesses the Duke of Cambridge and
%;.11ee George returned to town on Sunday night from
3tt to Colonel Wyndham, at Petworth, Sussex.
41'1 Gre y h s arrived at his residence in Belgrave-
lallare, 3 a
14,1 Ye Right Hon. H. Labouchere arrived last evening
Its residence in Belgrave-square.
Taeßight Hon. Sir George Grey has arrived at his
The
in Eaton-place.
it_ue Earl of Auckland had an interview with Lord
bjamn Russe:l yesterday, at his residence in Chesham-
kltee; The Earl of Clarendon and the Right Hon. T.
Baron
also visited his Lordship yesterday.
2'l'oll de Brupow, the Russian Minister, had an in-
Itlew with Sir Robert Peel yesterday. His Excel-
,3? also transacted business at the Foreign-office.
tnn'he Earl of Aberdeen reFurned to town yesterday
Tilrning, and had an interview with Sir. Robert Peel.
Lin-
coln Right Hon. Sidney Herbert and the Earl of Lin-
n, had also interviews with the Right Hon. Baronet.
„Ishe Hon. Edward Stewart, Deputy Chairman of the
etonis, had an interview with the Chancellor of the
4;sehequer yesterday, at his official residence in Down-
g-street.

rHE LATE MINISTRY.
PA, meeting of some of the members of Sir Robert
Baronet's
Government was held yesterday at the Right Hon.
4,Lonet's residence, in Whitehall-gardens.
o,4c,he Earl of Aberdeen, who had left town for Brighton
• _ 'aturday, was sent for to attend the meeting. His
Lordship arrived in town at two o'clock yesterday, and
immediately afterwards called on Sir Robert Peel.
ehe Earl of Lincoln, Sir James Graham, the Right
o°ll. S. Herbert, and several other members of the
4.1,t,_?) Cabinet, were present at the above meeting.
The Lord Chancellor, the Earl of Haddington, Lord
but-wide, and Lord Granville Somerset did not attend
the Meeting.
tar' St. Germans has, it is stated, not yet entered upon
theh duties of his office as Postmaster-General, though
2 tor‘'s`,ip was fully prepared to do so when the Minis-
tl'7 resigned.
Sir Thomas Fremantle's mansion in Eaton-place is pre-
4.
t 414ing for the reception of the Right Hon. Baronet, but
to intimation of his intended return from Dublin Castle
48 yet been received in town.—Post

Lord
NEW MINISTRY.-- It has been mentioned tha
v
John Rus,ell has had several confidential communica-
tls with Sir James Graham since his Lordship's return
cOM the Isle of Wight. It may be that such cominunica-
°4B have taken place, though we know nothing certain
sere the point ; but if they have, they must have related to
routine affairs connected with the carrying on of the
• interim Government, for we can assert most positively
B'.4t neither Sir James Graham, nor any other member of
other
Robert Peel's Cabinet, has for one moment contemplated
;ther coalition or concert with the projected Whig-Radical
"•vhninistration.—Herald.
Air. Wallace, the late Member for Greenock, whose
Public spirit and praiseworthy services we have so often bad
t2;se to compliment, has just performed another gracious act
his late constituents, which calls forth farther commenda-
i„,aliGn• It appears that Mr. Wallace has kept, with sem-
', "'ens care, sets of all the public and Parliamentary docu •
melts which were presented to him as a Member of Parlia-
wisen!. These books, plans, and reports, amounting in the
Cole, to about 12,000 volumes, he has presented to the
the
Library, and along with them he has also given up
ue gold medal which, as representative for the town, he was
resented with on the accession of Queen Victoria to the
hron-c.
In addition to this, Mr. W. has also reserved
another set of the same documents, which he means, we are
in nformed, to present to the Mechanics' Library of reenock.
"lacpcne Post. .
,Tatern ants have been put forward that the decrease
‘, the stock of bullion in the Bank of England is owing to a
d""
ernanu for foreign corn. These statements are altogether
; orroneens, as we have the most unexceptionable authority
r t•-•e fact, that not a single sovereign nor an ounce of gold
h union has gone abroad. There is much more probability
hits or, which is generally current, that the bullion
beenp absorbed by the Scotch and Irish bankers, who are
sparing to m ike the railway deposit s.—Tinies.
,PRICE GOLD.—On the 9th instant the price of
td in Hamburgh was 434 per mark, which, at the English
nt price of 31. 17s. 101 d. per ounce for standard gold, gives
71 exchange of 13 91; and the exchange at liarnburgh on
London at short date being 13 101, it results that gold is
0,46
the
per cent. dearer in London than in llamburgh. On
13th instant the premium on gold at Paris was 11 per
Mille, which, at the English Mint price of 31. I7s. 101 d. per
ounce for standard gold, gives an exchange of 25 421, and
.
• exchange at Paris on London at short date beiliv 25
• itrpesaurlitss. that gold is 0.60 per cent. dearer in London
than in
_lt may be mentioned, as a proof of the immense
amount of business now being carried on by manufacturers
of locomotives, that no firms engaged in the trade will con-
tract to suppl • engines in less than three years.—Newcastle
Journal.

iIIEE-TRADE MEETING AT BIR-
MINGHAM.
13IRMINCIIAM, DEC. 15—A nnnaerous and highly re-
spectable meeting was held this day in the Town-hall,
convened by Henry Smith, Esq., mayor of the borough,
for the purpose set forth in the following requisition,
viz. ;—" For considering the propriety of memorialising
her Majesty's Government for the immediate opening
of the ports of the United Kingdom for the free admis-
sion of all kinds of fereign grain and provisions."
The requisition was signed by upwards of two thou-
sand respectable merchants and tradesmen, and in com-
pliance with their request the Mayor called the meeting
for to day. Twelve o'clock was the hour appointed.
Shortly after that time the hall was crowded to excess.
On the platform we noticed amongst others—G. F.
Muntz, Esq., M.P., Richard Spooner, Esq., M.P., H.
Smith, Esq., P. H. Muntz, and Wm. Scholefield, Esqrs.;
Aldermen Vanwart, Beale, Weston, Bolton, Geach,
Room, Thornton ; Councillors Baldwin, Smith, Corah,
Sargent, Perry, Webster, Clifford, Malchett, Middle-
more, Barlow, &c. ; Thomas Redfern, Esq., George
Edmonds, Esq., Joseph Sturge, Esq., Charles Sturge,
Esq., R. K. Douglas, Esq., Thomas Eyre Lee, Esq., Ed.
Barker, Esq., Lucas Chance, Esq., and many of the most
influential men in the town, of all parties.
HENRY SMITH,
.Esq., Mayor, having taken his seat,
opened the business by saying he held in his hand a re-
quisition, signed by a number of names, equal, in point
of respectability, in point of station and commercial im-
portance,
to any which he had ever before seen attached
to a requisition got up in that town ; and bearing that
fact in mind, he could not hesitate one moment to con •
vene them together, in order to afford the inhabitants an
opportunity of expressing their opinions upon the sub-
ject. He had his own opinions upon the important
questien involved in the requisition ; but he was not
there for the purpose of annunciating them, but for the
purpose of collecting the opinions of others. Believing,
as he did, that the question was one the most vitally
connected with their interests, and the interests of the
community at large ; and also believing that they were
met to consider and discuss it at a crisis in the affairs of
this kingdom the most important that ever was witnessed,
and, in his opinion, the most serious that could ever as •
semble them together, he entreated them to bring all that
firmness, that judgment, and good sense, which they
were possessed of, and which the importance of the sub-
ject deserved, to the consideration of the resolution which
would be brought forward. He had now only to remind
them that this meeting was called to consider the pro-
priety of memoralising her Majesty's Government to
open the ports, and to admit into the country that food
which the people stood in need of. But he had also to
remind them, that consistently with good order every
person who was present had a right to be heard so long
as he adhered to the immediate object for which they
were assembled. He asked them, therefore, for a patient
and impartial hearing for every gentleman who might
think proper to address them, and he should do his duty
to secure for every speaker that attention to which he
might be entitled.—(Loud applause.)
W. SCIIOLEFIELD, Esq., then presented himself to the
meeting, and was received with great cheering. After
which he said, nothing but the conviction of the great im-
portance of the business for which they were assembled
could have induced him to appear before them as the mover
of the first resolution. The Committee called upon him for
the purpose of submitting it to their consideration, and
without any further apology he begged leave to move the
following resolution :—" That this meeting cordially sym-
pathises with those vast multitudes of their fellow-sub -
jeets, who have already made known to her Majesty's
Ministers their apprehensions as to an impending
scarcity, and their anxious wishes for a repeal of the
corn-laws, the existence of which checks the free use and
enjoyment of the necessaries of life." They would need
no argument to prove to them, that in consequence of
the failure of the potato crop, the country was in immi-
nent peril and in great danger of famine. Mr. Dugdale,
cue of the Members of North Warwickshire, bad told
them in a recent speech that they had this year an enor-
mous crop of corn. If that was the case, he (Mr. Schole-
field) was very glad of it, but he was afraid that the
Hon. Gentleman would get very few to believe that such
was really the fact.— (Hear.) He ( Mr. S.) hoped
they should be able that day to view the question as
one merely of fact, and irrespective of any topics cal
culated to create angry feelings amongst them.—
(Cheers.) There was no necessity for referring to mere
party politics. They were met to, consider a grave and
serious question, and one in which the dearest in-
terests of all present were involved. It was now a
fact that bread was rising in price, that potatoes were
rising in price, and that it was to be feared ere long
scarcity would exist in the land. Under these cir
cumstances he hesitated not to say that the present
movement ought to be the most fervent, the most deter-
mined they had ever yet made.—(Loud cheers.) That
the corn-laws were an evil of the first magnitude was
admitted by all who had ever seriously and honestly con-
sidered the subject, and he believed there never were
such a combination of circumstances existing at any
period since their enactment so favourable to their re-
moval as at the present moment. Through the exertions
of such teen as Mr. Cobden and Mr. Bright the fallacy of
agricultural protection had been exposed. The agitation
they carried on throughout the country had convinced all
whose opinions were worth having in the agricultural
districts, that what was called protection was in reality no
protection to the farmer. That agitation had converted
the ablest of the Whig leaders—(Cheers)—and that agi-
tation had upset the strongest Ministry that had existed
for many years in this country. That agitation had
proved, beyond the possibility of doubt, the iniquity
of the corn-laws, and had aroused public opinion
to that point that if they could not now suc-
ceed in getting a repeal of the corn-law: from the pre-
sent House of Commons, they must look forward to
an alteration in the constitution of that House, and
ho trusted that if ever the time should come when it
would be found that the present constituency were
not equal to the emergencies of the country, such an im-
provement would be made in it as would render it suit-
able to the wants of the nation. He trusted that if this
time should arrive that if the opinion of the working
classes did not come up to the notions of the middle
classes upon the point of suffrage, the middle class would
descend to the opinion of the working class.—(Cheers.)
Fur at all hazards, by all legitimate means, and within
the pale of the constitution, they must have an imme-
diate and unconditional repeal of the corn-laws.
Mr. MELSON seconded the resolution.
JOSEPH STURGE, Esq., then proposed an amendment,
having reference to the franchise, which was afterwards
overruled by the Mayor.
Mr. Alderman WESTON next briefly addressed the
meeting.
Mr. JOHN MASON, a Chartist leader, on the part of
the working classes, expressed their earnest desire for
the removal of the corn-laws.—(Loud cheers.) The
corn-laws had been always opposed by the leaders of
the people.
GEORGE EDMONDS, Esq., Clerk of the Peace, next
presented himself to the meeting, and was received with
tremendous cheering. When the applause had sub-
sided, he said—Seven years ago, eight thousand persons
met in that hall, and then Mr. Muntz, their Hon. Mem-
ber, had declared his opinion that the corn-laws ought
not to be removed until they altered the money-laws,
and yet that gentleman had now been obliged to come
forward and vote for a repeal of the corn-laws, because
he could not get an alteration of the money-laws. Their
excellent friend, Mr. Thomas Attwood, had also been of
a similar opinion ; but be (Mr. Edmonds) was now de-
lighted at being
.able to read to the meeting a letter
which had been sent from Mr. Thomas Attwood. Mr.
E. then read a letter from Mr. Attwood, expressing re-
gret at his not being able to attend the meeting. From
that important document they would perceive that Mr.
Attwood was now decidedly in favour of an im-
mediate repeal of the corn-laws.—(Loud and long-
continued cheering. In the year 1815, when the
aristocracy forced the corn-laws upon the country,
they were told what the consequences would be, but
they despised all warnings. They surrounded the House
of Commons with soldiers and cannon, and in spite of
the people they imposed the heavy yoke upon them
which they had now borne for thirty years—(Hear)—
but which it appeared they were determined no longer
to endure.—(Cheers.) The repeal of the corn-laws was
a practical question. It was one which the people could
now settle if they were, only unanimously resolved upon
it, but if they now let the golden opportunity slip—if
they deferred the question of the corn laws, or attempted
to substitute the suffrage, or currency, or any other mea-
sure in the place of it, they might depend upon it they
would have reason to regret their conduct.
Mr. MUNTZ, M.P., next addressed the meeting. He
said that, as the name of Mr. Attwood had been intro-
duced, lie felt it his duty to state that he had long
experience of that gentleman'a character, and he could
bear his testimony to the fact that if he had any
fault, it was the possession of too kindly a heart—
(Cheers)—infinitely too kindly for a place with which
he (Mr. Muntz) had been well acquainted for the last
six years.--(Laughter.) He (Mr. Munta) was of opinion
that the corn-laws ought to be repealed; but he did not
look for such results from theved that in twelveeir abolition as soramone pths
ar-
ties expected. Indeed, he beli
after their abolition every man in England would be
convinced that more was required for the prosperity of
the country that a repeal of the corn-laws. Whilst he
believed that the abolition of the corn-laws was not the
only measure which was required in order to secure the
happiness of the country, yet lie was an advocate for
their abolition, as it would have a tendency to effect the
ultimate success of just and correct principles of legisla-
tion.—(Loud cheers.) He had stated in his address to
the electors of Birmingham in 1839 that he was in
favour of the principles of free-trade, and as the basis of
those principles a free-trade in the prime necessary of
life, corn, and in gold and silver as well, and he still ad-
hered to those opinions. —(Hear, hear.) He thought
that in order to remove the evils under which we
suffered, there ought to be a change in the money laws;
but he found from his experience in the House of Coin-
mons that both parties were disinclined to carry that
alteration into effect, and he did not feel on that account
he could be justified in refusing to exert himself to pre-
cure a repeal of the corn-laws.—(Cheers.) Agriculture
and manufactures were both the same as regarded their
commercial nature. Agriculture was undertaken for
profit just as manufactures, and they ought to be both
placed in the same position, one not having more protec-
tion than another.—(Cheers.) He felt it, however, to be
his duty to caution them, as to his view of the effect
which was to be expected from a repeal of the corn-
laws, in order that when they were repealed the people
of Birmingham could not say to him (Mr, Muntz) that
he had deceived them as to the result of the abolition
of those laws. The country required not only that the
corn-laws should be abolished, but that sugar and other
articles of consumption should also be allowed to enter
freely into the country. He could not agree to the cor-
rectnees of the argument that we ought not to be al-
lowed to get any slave grown sugar, whilst we used
slave-grown cotton, and coffee, and tobacco. Their ex-
ertions to put an end to the slave-trade lied nether
increased the horrors of that trade; whilst it had
not at all diminished the number of slaves imported.

.I=7
There had been no less than 0,000 vessels, with slaves
on board, seized since 1819, and yet the importatien
of slaves from the coast of Africa had not de-
creased. We had given twenty millions of money
in order to put an end to slavery, we still kept a
large fleet at great expense on the coast of Africa,
and we were still called on to pay a high price for
our sugar, under the pretence of putting down the
slave-trade, although, as he before remarked, we
used slave-grown coffee and tobacco without any
scruple.—(Hear, hear..) If we were to go on interfering
with every other nation and taking care of everybody,
we should soon be in a position where our interference
would be useless. They had heard a good deal about
the reduction which would result from the repeal of the
corn-laws, but if such a reduction of necessary expenses
followed, then he did not see why the pay of the army
and navy, and of the cabinet and the judges should not
be reduced also.—(Laughter and cheers.) Now they all
knew then there was to be some change in the Ministry.
He had some doubt about it.—(Hear, hear.) For he
believed that Lord John Russell would not be able to
form an Administration.—(Hear, hear.) He was no
party man, and he cared not whether Whig, Tory, or
any one else was in power—(A laugh)—and, if he was
satisfied he was doing right, he cared not whom he
opposed. He had been charged with doing great
wrong in advocating the repeal of the corn-
laws ; and it was said that great evil would
arise from such a measure; but he had cone
ell in his power to obtain redress for his constituents.
lie was convinced that all who lived by the operation of
labour were robbed of one-half by the corn-laws—
(Hear)—and he, therefore, left it to the meeting to say
whether he was wrong in supporting, as he had done,
the repeal of the corn-laws, knowing as he did, that re-
peal would not produce immediate benefit—that it would
produce very great distress—but that distress would
oblige all parties to do something to relieve it.—(Hear.)
That might be said to be doing evil that good might
come from it ; but it was what every one did every day.
Now, as he said, the Ministry was to be changed ; but
whatever Ministers might be in, they might promise a
great deal, but let not those whom he addressed believe
them.—(A laugh) All parties promised wonders, and
some had done wonders. The Tories had done wonders.
—(Hear, and a laugh.) For instance, they put on
5,000,0001. of taxes, and then said " Look at the revenue."
—(Laughter.) There was another means of putting the
hand into a man's pocket, and bringing up the revenue—
he would not say what it was—but it was about equally
as justifiable.—(Laughter.) However, the oftener the
Ministry was changed the better for the people of this
country.—(A laugh.) Nu change took place without
concession. Ministers who now come in had:to bid for
their places. His own opinion was that the Whigs were
not conversant with the principles of government, and
that they did not understand the interests or positions
of the people ; and that the Tories were quite on a par
with them—(Laughter)—and, therefore, the only way
to expect anything from them, was by rubbing them
against each other, and so rub off the surface of their
skins, and eventually they might get some good from
them.—(Laughter.) His Hon Colleague seemed to
think with him upon all points but one ; but he could
not understand how he, knowing how the landed inte-
rests were robbing them in their position, was so tisnor •
some, and could not go the whole hog.—(Laughter.)
But of this he was convinced, that his Hon. Friend and
colleague wished them well ; and, as far as he (Mr.
Muntz) was concerned, he must say, that as long as he
represented them he must do it honestly, and would do
all in his power to ameliorate their condition.—(Loud
cheers.)
RICHARD SPOONER, Esq., M.P., followed, and com-
menced his address by saying as his Hon. Friend had
read an extract from one of his addresses, he (Mr.
Spooner) must beg leave to read an extract from a speech
which he delivered in that hall when they first placed
him in the important trust of representing them in Par-
liament. The words he used were these, "I have told
you before, I do not approve of the present corn-laws.
I told you I never had supported them, that I never
would support the present corn- laws." These were the
words which he used, and his opinions were unchanged.
The present corn-laws he never did support, and the
present corn-laws be never would support ; but he would
tell them at the same what he had told them before, that
an immediate and total repeal of them would inflict upon
the country generally, and that borough in particular,
misery so intense, that he could not conscientiously con-
sent to their sudden removal. The Hon. Gentleman
then repeated the arguments which had been used by
Mr. Muntz in favour of an unconditional removal of the
corn-laws, and concluded his address (which was listened
to with mingled expressions of dissent and approbation)
dissenting from the resolution.
Mr. Councillor JAMES BALDWIN said the question
before them was the repeal of the corn-laws and the im-
mediate opening of the ports.—(Hear, hear.) It was
his opinion that if they (the people of England) were
fairly represented in Parliament, they would not be
compelled to meet there that day to demand theii just
and lawful rights.—(Cheers) He agreed with the Hon.
Member, Mr. Muntz, upon every point which he had al-
luded to. Mr. Muntz and his colleague seemed, from
their speeches that day, to have an inclination to assist
them in carrying out the repeal of the corn-laws ; and
from that time he (Mr. Baldwin) would forget all poli-
tical differences which he had had with those gentlemen,
for he thought they both had their country's cause at
heart. It was his opinion, if the corn-laws were not re-
pealed very speedily, inevitable destruction threatened
the land. A famine of no ordinary character was im-
pending, and unless the ports were opened and the corn-
laws repealed, starvation was their lot.—(hear.) Let the
people of England express their determination to a man
that the corn laws must and shall be repealed, and he
would be bound that no Government could stand against
them, and till then they would not repeal them. It had
been said by the opponents of free-trade that the reports
respecting the potato crop were greatly exaggerated,
and that there were scarcely any injured in many parts
of Ireland. Now he would say, do not believe these
statements, for;they were false. He moved the follow-
ing resolution :
" That this meeting cannot view, without deep con-
cern, the advanced prices of all articles of food, arising,
as they believe, from the operation of the corn-laws, ag-
gravated by the insufficient corn harvest of the present
year, and the partial but too extensive failure of the
potato crop ; and are convinced that a deficiency of
nutritious food must be accompanied, as on former oc-
casions, by a decline in trade, and by widely extended
difficulty, distress, and disease among the industrious
classes of this densely populated borough, and of other
parts of the United Kingdom."
Mr. LUCAS CHANCE seconded the resolution.
Mr. Alderman PHILIPS moved the following resolu-

FREE TRADE.

The following circular, which was drawn up at the
close of the meeting at Guildhall yesterday, was circu-
lated in the City :
" Ask the advocates of the Anti-Corn-law League
why they promote a free trade in corn and give their
votes in Parliament in support of a monopoly in gold, by
supporting Peel's monetary measures ?
" Free trade in corn necessarily involves an immediate
removal of all protection in every branch of our national
manufactures.
" The promoters of the League, who are for the most
part cotton manufacturers, think they can afford to
abandon the protection they enjoy of 10 to 15 per cent.,
because they have so extensively substituted machinery
for human labour ; but let it be remembered that the
manufacturers of silks, of woollen cloths, of iron and
other hardwares, of linen, of paper, of ribbons, of cutlery,
of glass, or watches, of jewellery, of shoes, of hats, of
gloves, and of the various articles of British production
on which our industrious artizans depend for their daily
support, are still protected from foreign competition by
duties varying from 15 to 30 per cent. ; and let it be
well pondered how, if free trade in corn be declared and
these duties be abandoned (as they must be), the work-
men in the above-mentioned trades will find means of
support for themselves and families when their wages are
reduced one-third or more.
" The only way in which the case can be fairly and
honestly met, is by repealing the existing money laws at
the same time time that the laws which protect corn and
other productions of British industry are repealed ; this
would put producers on a safe footing. By the money
laws, which fix the price of gold at 31. 17s. 104 d. per
ounce (its natural value as adopted in countries not in-
directly taxed to an enormous extent as Great Britain is),
the whole of the taxes by which the interest of the Na-
tional Debt is paid (amounting to twenty-seven millions
annually) will, as they have done since the fatal mone-
tary Bill of 1819, come out of the pockets of the pro-
ducing classes, instead of being carried forward in price
to the consumers.
" Though the laws which protect native industry were
removed, still there would remain taxes by customs and
-excise, amounting to full thirty millions, levied upon
producers. When this mode of taxation was greatly
extended, as it was during the Continental war, the
great William Pitt saw that, with a gold equivalent cur-
rency, such taxation could not be carried forward in
price to the more wealthy consumers, who were by the
Legisluture intended to bear it ; and therefore he adopted
the plan of making the currency of the nation convertible
into gold nt its market price in .such currency only.
Under this fair, reasonable, arid enlightened system
of money, the nation flourished beyond example,
and the wages of labour were liberal and sufficient for
workmen and their families. It was because taxation by
customs and excise were Intended ultimately to reach
the more wealthy consumer through the producer, that
it was called indirect ;' but by the unseen and most
unjust operation of the Act of 1819, this species of im-
post, which amounts to three-fourths of the total revenue
of Great Britain, was, for the most part, rendered direct'
upon the industrious classes.
" These statements are proved demonstratively in the
tracts and pamphlets of the Society fur the Emancipa-
tion of Industry,' a society consisting of gentlemen who,
perceiving the enormous wrong inflicted by the action of
the currency as it now exists, associated themselves with
a view of disabusing the Government, the Legislature,
and the producing classes, and of promoting a Parlia-
mentary inquiry into the truth of what they aver.
" Considering that free trade in gold was the remedy,
and that free trade in productions of British industry
under the existing currency was 'a delusion and a fraud,'
which would aggravate beyond endurance the misery of
the producing classes, the Committee of the Society for
the Emancipation of Industry respectfully addressed the
following, among other questions, to the Council of the
Anti-Corn-law League :
"If gold,' the measure of value, be excluded from the
law of supply and demand, and its price be fixed, as
it now is, does it not inevitably follow that all prices,
whether of commodities or of labour, must be regu-
lated thereby ; and is it not to the fact of gold'
being fixed at the low price of 3/. 17s. 100. per
ounce, the price it bore before taxation was so largely
imposed, that the present !ow and unremunerating
prices for commodities and labour in this highly-
taxed country are to be attributed. ?
" The Committee of the Society, not having received
a satisfactory reply to their first questions, offered to
appoint an equal number of gentlemen to meet Messrs.
Cobden, Villiers, and Bright, or a fair discussion of the
question raised by the Society ; but this was ineffectual.
"It is hoped, therefore, that those who regard the wel-
fare of their fellow-countrymen engaged in production
of every kind, will cease to give ear to the doctrines of
the League, until they have consented simultaneously
to pray for a free trade in gold as well as in corn. In
confirmation of these statements, an immediate perusal
is recommended of a tract entitled The Case of the
Industrious Classes Briefly Stated,' published by the So-
ciety, and sold by Mr. Samuel Clarke, Pall-mall, East."

THE AGRICULTURAL PROTEC
TION SOCIETY AND THE CORN-LAWS.

the cultiVition of our own soil should be abandoned."
Many able statements have been made and written by
practical -Men to refute this assertion.
And, lastly, the petition declares that the ruin of
the cultivators of the boil would be the inevitable
consequence of carrying out this doctrine. Has
not the ruin already taken place, according to
their own showing, under the present laws, and which
the numbers of farmers sold up can testify ? As to
the labourers, the condition of this class speaks for
itself, notwithstanding the farce carried on at the
dinners given to them by those who, by their own
admission, and it is a fearful one for any man delibe-
rately and after mature inquiry to make, that corn could
be sold at a much cheaper rate in this country, and thus
evidently compelling the poor and industrious workmen,
and their own labe‘urers among the number, to expend a
large proportion of their hard-earned gains for the fan-
cied protection of what is called the " agricultural in-
terest," Besides directly interfering with that wise and
beneficent 'system ordained by the goodness of Provi-
dence, vvhereby one country is made to abound in one
commodity and another in anotcier—all more or less
serviceable to the necessities and comforts of human life.
These short-sighted protectionists would render trade
and commerce a curse rather than a blessing to man-
kind.—Your obedient servant,
nossie Priory, December 13.

KINNAIRD.

IRELAND.
AGRARIAN OU TRAGES IN CLARE AND

LINIEHICK.

The Limerick Chronicle of Saturday contains the fol-
lowing
On ing:—Wednesday evening last, at an early hour, a gang
of five seen armed, and partly in disguise, entered the
cottage of John Higgins, steward to Henry Spaight,
Esq., of Corbally, near Quin, county Clare, where, in
his absence by threats they obtained an old musket and
sword, his servant boy having contrived to secrete a
serviceable gun. They withdrew after beating the ser-
vant, and the same party, it is supposed, soon after
attacked,the house of John Ilanneen, who was compelled
to surrender a case of good pistols. Higgins and Hanneen
lest no time in swearing informations of the Whiteboy
outrage l;lfore Mr. H. Spaight, who with constable
Meredith went in pursuit of the marauders, and ap-
prehended Patrick Brassil and Michael Cody, whom
Ha,nneen identified as being of the party, and they
have been committed to Ennis gaol.
" Thursday evening last, about seven o'clock, a party
of five armed persons, three dressed in women's clothes,
ruched into the house of Denis Keogh, on the lands of
Ballycullen, the property of 1). J. Wilson, Esq., Belvoir.
When they entered, Keogh ran into a room, and they
put out a candle which was burning, and ordered the
people in the house to silence two dogs then barking ;
the dogs not ceasing, one of the fellows fired and shot the
dogs between two men who were sitting by the fire, and
both of whom miraculously escaped being kided. Im-
mediately after this, the person who appeared to be the
leader, asked the man of his party hew he dared to fire
without orders. They called for a gun, which Keogh's
son said was in a room, when two of them ran in to seize
it. Before going away they said they understood there
were people there surveying and dividing land, but they
warned them from taking any mans land, or any man's
house, and that if they did they should mark the
consequence; and as for Wilson, let him pull on for a
while, but it shall be a short while: The leader attempted
to disguise his voice and talk with an English accent.
They afterwards called at the house of a man named
Meany, and ordered him not to quit it on any account.
" In consequence of the Whiteboy attack on the dwell-
ing-house of Captain Welsh, at Roonatd, a meeting of
the gentry, magistrates, and farmers, was yesterday
held at the Petty Sessions-house of Doonass, Sir Hugh
Dillon Mapy, Bart., in the chair, when a large subscrip-
tion was entered into for the apprehension and convic-
tion of the parties concerned in the outrage. The ma-
gistrates also applied for an extra police force, in order
that a regular and constant patrol may be kept up in
that district.
" Last night an armed party attacked the house of a
blacksmith, named Connell, at Aherina, county Clare,
beat him in a severe manner, and cautioned him to quit
his place of residence.
"-A threatening notice was sent through the Pallas
Post-office to John Switzer, steward to the Rev. A.
Champagne, at Miltown, indicating that certain and im-
mediate death would ensue if he failed in giving up his
situation., -It will be recollected that this man was
beaten by ihe Rockites recently, and that in consequence
a police station has been formed at Miltown.
" Thursday last a Rock notice was posted on the gate
of Henry Ross, Esq., of Beagh, near Pallaskenry,
threatening him with death, if he did not discharge his
steward, also threatening the steward (who is a strictly
honest man, and careful of his master's business) with
immediate death. Mr. Ross is a most benevolent gentle-
man, and gives employment to a number of labourers,
who were in a miserable condition : but this is the re-
urn he receives for his liberality. The notice was
necl Molly Maguire.'"

THE IRIS II PRESS AND THE LATE
MINISTRY.
The Otarge organ, the Evening Mail, thus announces the
event :—"Lngland is left without a Government—a threatened
war with America—Our foreign relations in a most ticklish
condition—lreland ripe and ready for rebellion—and at a
moment when difficulties beset us at home—and all this is
the work of the "heaven-born" Minister—that discreetest,
wisest, best of men—Sir Robert Peel. The sensation pro-
duced here is one of universal joy at having got rid of Sir Robert
Peel, and each Protestant congratulates his fellow, as though
some glorious victory had been achieved."
- Th. Irish Whig c,rzan. the Dublin Evening Post, saws—" It
owed its dissolution to no Parliamentary confederation—it
was prostrated in no disastrous debate. It committed sui-
cide. It fell by its own hands. Of course we arc delighted
with the resillt. Of course we glory in the discomfiture of
the public enemy, and we are rejoiced beyond measure that
they fell by own suicidal ha:ids. But suum cuique—Let
Wellingtontliitve the honour of the deed as well as Peel."
The Freinian's Journal, the daily repeal organ, thus closes
an article on this subject :—" We have devoted so much space
to the details that we have not left ourselves room for the ex-
pression of the thoughts which crowd ucon us as we contem-
plate the effect of those changes on Ireland. We look upon
them not without hope—hope that good wii; come to the
universal people—hope that the people of Ireland will show
at the coming elections that they contend for principle, not
for men."