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

etteniug

LONDON, WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 26. 1845

Lord Jong ItussELL, during his quiet retreat at
Pdinburgh, has employed his time usefully in viewing
the alarming state cf the corn and potato crops, and
has embodied his sentiments on that important question,
as well as others connected with it, in a letter addressed
to his constituents, the electors of the City of London.
With one exception, and that is a most important one,
there is little new in the letter, and hardly any opinions
expressed which have not occurred to most persons con •
versant with the working of the obnoxious system of
corn-laws, and especially the ruinous effects of the sliding-
scale, bat even in that case his Lordship's opinions,
though not differing materially from those entertained

by the great body of free-traders, may be regarded as

•t' the greatest value, and the most decisive proof that

the lite of the corn-laws is sealed. His Lordship, with

that good sense, candour, send independence for which

he is justly admired, even by those who disagree with

him, admits that he has changed his opinions, and is

fay convinced that the trade in corn must be free.

used," says ho, " to be of opinion that corn was an ex
ception to the general rules of political eco

nomy, but Observation and experience have con

vinced me that we ought to abstain from a

interference with the supply of food. Neither the

01111.
Government nor a Legislature can ever regulate the
The Paris papers are chiefly occupied with the panic
corn-market with the beneficial effects which the entire
in the share market and the intelligence from the United
freedom of sale and purchase are sure to produce."
States respecting the Oregon question. In reference to
These are noble sentiments for a statesman so intimately
the first subject we regret to find that several of the
connected lay blood with the first aristocratic families in
Opposition journals attribute the fall in the share market
the kingdom, but they are chiefly important as the
in a great measure to English jobbers, who sold out
deliberate expressions of the leader of a great party,
when the prices were at the height, and after realising
and the only real antagonist whom Sir ROBERT PEEL has
considerable sums disappeared. It is not fair to state
to fear. It is in that light that we view the question,
because from the new position of the parties the most the case in this manner, for it is well known that French
beneficial and decisive results may be anticipated. In speculators adopted the same course, and that many
persons in this country, so far from having made money
almost every great measure introduced by Sir ROBERT
PEEL since he assumed the reins of Government in in French railway shares, are losers to a great amount.
1241 he has only been an imitator, and in that respect Such a system is not peculiar to any nation, and the
he has surpassed all former statesmen. He is taught by French are quite as clever in seizing the fit occasion to
the enemy; he adopts his principles, and to give them buy or sell as the English. We also regret that the
some show of orginality, he carries them to the utmost Constitutionnel, a journal that should be above national
i,
extent that the circumstances of the country and the prejudices, should encourage rather than check them by
prejudices of the people will allow. The i%laynooth directing its remarks not so much against these English
Grant, the Colleges Bill, a system of conciliation to- schemers as against the country. For instance, it says:
wards Ireland, and every new measure adopted for the —" When we expressed our fears as to the violent and
government of that country—all were stolen from the excessive displacement of French capital it was said that
Whigs. In his commercial policy he has acted on the the English would come to our aid. In fact, the English
came principle. He took the original idea from his capitalists did arrive, and they figured in the list of direc-
antagonists, clothed it in a new shape, and, with the tors of most of the companies which was multiplied with
exception of the corn law, has far outbid them in con- such frightful fecundity. But all these bankers, these
cessions to the free-traders. But oven on that head he directors, these engineers, these squires, whom we bor-
has done something. The admission of foreign cattle rowed from England were only financial supernumeraries
the who soon disappeared after making us pay for their
and provisions at a moderate duty, and, above all,
Canada Corn Bid, were movements in the right diree. credit at an exorbitant rate." Sentiments like these
tion, and held out a hope, nay led to conviction, may be well chargeable with ingratitude. The French
that as soon as time and circumstances would lines completed and in progress owe much to English
capital and English artisans and labourers, fur without
allow, he would go the whole length. When his
new sliding-wale was introduced he hate nothing to fear them we are fully convinced that not one-half of the
from Lord JOHN RUSSELL. The MELBOUNE Ministry work would have been done. The writer in that journal
sis wellt awarefi of the fact, and he therefore finds it neces-
3tanade a great blunder, when they touched the corn-laws ,
scairiyemeos
fed other causes for the panic besides the
all, to propose so little relief. In fact, the fls. duty I
oimblingfEnglishmen. "Up to the time
leas scouted by the free-traders, and justly regarded as
of the adjudication othe northern line, the provinces
even wors.e than the sliding scale. The evils of that
had to a certain degree refrained from taking part is
preposterous and unjust arrangement were so manifest,
and the speculations of the Bourse of Paris; but when this
that they must in a short time work their own cure,
line was adjudicated, the bankers who had five, ten,
and twenty thousand shares in thefaallffabiyr,saaines
d
the cure hill commenced; but from a fixed duty there fifteen,
was no how of relief, and that scheme, therefore,
who were afraid of provoking a premature
received warm 119 quarter whatever.
support Iron; in Paris, sold their shares in the principal cities of the
I
A different scene however has now
opened, a-e" 4: if lir /WT1'7(10313, Lyons, Marseilles, Strasbourg, &C. The pro.
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