The Sun.
London, England, 1845-12-11 00:00:00

Vttel Ebition

SUN OFFICE, Seven o' Clock.

THE

Mr.M'Culloch, he found acomplete answer to Sir Henry
Raiford, at a late agricultural meeting, who declared
that the farmers were not able to do without
protection ; that they could not enter upon that
competition with the rest of the world which
the manufacturers of England at present had to do. In
that statistical account he found the following facts in
relation to this country and Holland, to which he had
referred:—in England the quantity of cultivated land
was 48,700,000 acres ; in Holland it was calcu-
lated at 5,500,000. The population of England was
upwards of 26 millions ; that of Holland was 2,900,000.
The proportion of population to each square mile was,
England, 250 persons ; Holland, 240 persons ; show-
ing that in this respect the countries were nearly
equal. The climate of England was much superior to
that of Holland. No counntry could compare with this
in the luxuriance of its verdure, or in the general mild-
ness of its climate ; whereas, the other country had a
severe winter. The rivers and canals were frozen
over the greater part of that season, and even
the Zuyder Zee was oftentimes under ice.
Yet, with all these disadvantages, Holland occupied
the position he had already shown, and yet the farmers
of this country were afraid of the removal of prohibition.
There was yet another fact in favour of England
in this comparison. In England the land-tax was only
1,200,0001., while the general taxation of the country
was 51,700,0001. per annum. This land-tax was only
per cent. on the whole tax of the country while the land in
Holland paid 25 per cent; and while the labourers wages
in England were on the average ls. 6d. per day, in Hol-
land they were ls. Bd. These were important facts on the
question underconsideration. A more powerful set of men
than our aristocracy does not exist in Europe or the world.
They were men who were looked to in consequence of
their high station, and yet he found them wealthy, great,
and powerful, as they were contending with the
poor artisan for a portion of his scanty meal. He
believed that Sir Robert Peel was favourable to
a repeal of the corn-laws, and would have given them
the benefit of the power he had possessed—for they
might have heard that he had resigned it; but then
there was another power behind him, which crippled
him even in the great position he held. He alluded to
the power of voting by proxy, by which could be
placed, in the hands of one man, the power of
having a majority on any question he chose, and he
maintained that such a power ought not to be allowed.
He every day passed the Royal Exchange and saw the
splendid monument erected to the noble Duke. He saw
in its featUres the stern appearance of the warrior
—the stern appearance of the chief who had
led our armies to victory—(Hear, hear)—but he
could not help thinking that the artist had exe-
cuted his task too faithfully, and that he had copied
from the statesman the same stern :inflexibility that
ought to belong only to the warrior. If men would
place themselves,in. false positions they must ex-
pect to subject themselves to inconvenience, and
have their conduct open to all sorts of anim
adversion. He felt that he had said enough, and
would conclude by seconding the resolution proposed by
Mr. Wire.
The RECORDER then read the resolution, and had just
called for a show of hands, when
Mr. LAWRENCE rose and said that he wished to say
a few words. They were aware that men were often led
by circumstances into errors in both thinking and acting,
and it was easy to put forth statements, but very difficult
to bring forward facts to support them. He was one
who thought an alteration in the corn-laws was requi-
site; but he did not quite agree in the view taken by
his friend.—(Hear.) He agreed with him to a cer-
tain extent in the statement that the greater portion
of the population of Ireland feed on potatoes, but he
would ask him the question, whether, if they did not
feed them on potatoes, they could give them anything
better ? They were too poor to afford food of a better
quality. Ireland is a more important country than
England with regard to corn, as more corn was exported
out of her to other countries than from England, while
they fed on potatoes. But would his friend show
that they were able to get better food while their wages
were as low as they were at present. He was much
struck by the remark of an Irishman, at Coleraine, who
said that potatoes were eightpence per stone there, but
were only fourpence per stone at Tipperary.
and said also that they were not half so well off there,
although wages were the same. They might depend on
it that whenever food was cheap the people got idle and
unable to work.—(This remark was followed by uproar.)
The resolution would not answer the case that had been
put, that because the Irish had no potatoes that, there-
fore, there should be a repeal of the corn-laws. The
population of England was not fed on pota-
toes, and as a proof of that ho would
refer to what took place in the metropolis and the great
manufacturing towns. The people of England, he be-
lieved, were better fed than the people of any nation in
Europe. The question of disease in potatoes had nothing
to do with the corn-laws. That they ought to be
repealed was his opinion, but he believed the effect of
that would be to lower the price of wages.— (Cries of
" No.") He asserted that such would be the case. It
might be said that corn was an exception to all
other matters connected with commerce, he did not see the
effect of that argument; he thought it would be, in some
measure, unwise to do away with the import duties
'altogether. He thought, if the corn-laws were re-
pealed, a new law should be introduced, fixing a duty of
ss. The remedy of opening the ports could only stave
off the evil.—(Hear, hear.) He asserted again that there
should be a ss. duty on corn.—(Laughter.) He only
asked for fair play in the discussion. His friend, the
mover of the resolution, had said that if the Court agreed
with him, which he had no doubt it would, he should move
another motion; he had no doubt it would so. He did
not think the resolution met the case fairly, and he
thought his friend in bringing it forward had
been most deficient in his argument he had
never known him more so in his life. The
first proposition held that this country was great,
powerful, and wealthy, but that a large proportion of
the inhabitants were reduced to a potato diet. He
denied the fact.—(Hear, hear.) He challenged his
friend Mr. Wire to the proof.—(Hear, hear.) If
he had brought such proof, he (Mr. Lawrence)
would at once submit, but in the absence of
all proof he would not submit to the dogma
of his friend Mr. Wire.—(Hear, hear.) The fact
that the Irish were fed upon potatoes had nothing to do
with the corn-laws whatever. It had to do with wages
and nothing more.—(Hear, hear.) And he trusted that
the railways now in progress in Ireland would remedy,
in part, the evil. He considered that evil was in part
caused by absentee landlords. But what was the fact?
Why, the people of this country consumed
more animal food and wheaten bread than any
other people in the world. (Hear, hear.)
It was stated that there was a deal of suffering in con-
sequence of this national economy. He did not know
what the term meant. Was the national practice meant
by the phrase ? But he found, also, that this suffering
was attributed to erroneous legislation, in excluding
the importation of food, restricting the extension of
commerce, and shutting out from the people the good-
ness of God. He denied this position. He denied the
fact.—(Shouts of laughter.) Instead of restricting
commerce by arbitrary laws, Great Britain has been
liberal above all the countries of the earth in her mer-
cantile usages. He believed that as regarded the
threatened famine, more was said on the subject than
was true. He understood that they were dealing with this
question in a commercial view, but he could not see what
commerce had to do with the failure of the potato crop.
It would be too idle to reply to what had been said in
support of their views by those who maintained the en-
tire abolition of all restrictive duty. Why, every man
stands aghast to know how this could be effected with
a due regard to meeting the exigencies of the
state. Was not clothing as much a necessary
as food?—(No, no.) Now he conceived that those who
differed from him would be very glad to resign
one half of their food for decent clothing. The
question for them to consider was, whether,
under the existing state of things they could
affect the objects some gentlemen seemed so anxious to
carry out? If they abolished all those protection laws as
they proposed to do, they would act unjustly, and
destroy those interests that had grown up under them,
and which, he maintained, deserved to be supported.
He would conclude by proposing his amendment, that
a petition be presented to her Majesty, praying that the
corn-laws should be abolished.
Mr. PRENDERGAST considered it would be better nor
to press the amendment.

NEW MINISTRY.

Immediately upon the refusal of the Duke o

WELLINGTON, on Friday last, to carry out what he

had agreed to do—namely, to propose a repeal of the
corn-laws in the House of Lords—it became apparent

that resignation of office by Sir ROBERT

PEEL must follow. Lord JOHN RUSSELL was

recommended to be sent for, and a messengor was

dispatched on Saturday last to command his at.

tendance at Osborne House. His arrival there was

expected yesterday, and Sir ROBERT PEEL expected
to have met him. Sir ROBERT, however, returned last

night without having seen Lord JOHN. This morn-
ing Lord JOHN RUSSELL and SiTIOBERT PEEL had an

interview of an hour's duration, after which Lord

JOHN RUSSELL left town for Cowes.

He had an

audience of her MAJESTY, and has returned to town

this evening, having had full powers given him to

form a Government. He has sent for Lord PAL➢fER-

TON, and is taking, it is believed, all the necessary

stops to form an Administration.

COURT OF COMMON COUNCIL.
(THIS DAY.)
A Court of Common Council was held in the Guild-
hall this day, for the purpose, among other business, of
considering the propriety of petitioning her Majesty to
take all such means as she may constitutionally possess
fur throwing open the ports of the United Kingdom of
Great Britain and Ireland for the free importation of
food.

The Right Hon. the Lord Mayor took the chair at
two o'clock.
The minutes of the last Court having been read and
confirmed, and some business of an unimportant eharae•
ter gone through,
The LORD MAYOR briefly explained why he had not
called the Court before the hour of two.
The requisition addressed to his Lordship was then
read.
Mr. D. WIRE then said that he rose on the present
occ ision with some anxiety, not because of any doubt as
to the proper course to be pursued, but simply because
of his inability to do justice to so great and so important
a subject. He knew that, in the course of the debate, he
would be followed by those whose talents and whose know-
ledge of the subject would entitle their opinion to great
weight, and he would thereforecontent himself a ith briefly
making one or two observations in support of the object
stated in the requisition. He held in his hand four dis-
tinct
propositions, and he apprehended that to neither
of them would any considerable opposition be of-
fered. The first proposition was that this na-
tion was a great, a powerful, and a wealthy na-
tion ; but that great, powerful, and wealthy
as it was, a very great proportion of her Majesty's sub-
jects in Ireland, and a great proportion of her subjects
in England, in Scotland, and in Wales, had long been
reduced to teed upon potatoes. There could be no doubt
that this proposition was a true one—there could be no
doubt that, though these three great elements of
prosperity were in the country, a large proportion
of its people were starving upon a potato diet.
This was a melancholy state of things, and called for
the serious examination of every true and patriotic man,
for the purpose of seeing whether some remedy might
not be found for such a state of things. When millions
of their countrymen were reduced to a potato diet, it
was surely time to examine into the cause. But there
was something beyond all this. There was the deteri-
oration of their moral and physical condition
consequent upon this state of things, and it became
them to see if Parliament had not the power within
themselves of improving this condition of the country,
and of giving the people a more wholesome and nutritious
food than they at present possessed. Even in the
more favoured parts of the country they would find
that the moral and physical condition of the people had
been deteriorated, and he would only ask those who
were in the smallest degree acquainted with
the agricultural districts to vouch for this. They were
Averse fed than even the brutes.—(Hear, hear.)
There could be no doubt, then, that this state of
things called for inquiry. The next proposition
he held in his hand arose naturally from the former
cues—namely, that a large proportion of their coun-
trymen were living upon potatoes, and this could not
be do Ibted, for the daily papers of all parties
had affirmed, for months past, that the potatoes now in
Ireland would not afford food to the people of that
country for a longer period than March next. It was
therefore their bounden duty to provide a remedy before
that time. It seems to follow as a natural proposi-
tion, that if there be a deficiency in the crops of
one country, there is a sufficient supply of food to be
obtained from another country, and that Providence
takes care that the supply shall be abundant for tl:e
dem Ind in every part of the globe. My Lord,
it is an undeniable fact that there exists a scarcity of
food in this country, and, therefore, as a patriot, a Chris-
tian, and a philanthropist, I cannot help deploring the
existence of those laws which throw an impediment in
the way of the introduction of corn into this country,
and deprive the poor labourer and the hard-toiling
mechanic of the ability to obtain the food necessary for
existence. That this will be the case is evident unless
the protection that is afforded to food that grows in this
country be removed, or, in other words, that the corn-
laws be abolished.—(Hear, hear.) My Lord Mayor,
having said this much, I shall content myself with mov-
ing the following resolutions, namely:-
1. " That great, powerful, and wealthy as this nation
is, by far the greatest portion of her Majesty's subjects
in Ireland, and a great portion of her Majesty's subjects
in England, Scotland, and Wales, have long been reduced
lor their principal food to potatoes.
2. "'That all classes, but especially the poor, have been
and are great sufferers from this result of the national
econ 'my.
3. " That the blight which has now fallen upon that
r of has subjected the people to great anxiety and dis-
tress, and to the danger of famine."
4. " That their sufferings are attributable to erronc-
cu.; legislation, which, by excluding the importation of
fool ant restricting commerce, shuts out from the
people the bounty aid goodness of God."
5. "That this Court do present its earnest and anxious
prayer to the Queen, that her Majesty will graciously
use all the means which are in her Majesty's power to
.Ten the ports of this kingdom to the free importation of
tend."

It is not my intention to offer any other observations at
present, but I will afterwards move a resolution, that,
moreover, it be presented to the Queen, praying her
.Majesty to repeal the cot n laws.
lair. JOHNSON said that he rose to second the reso-
lution. Thiswasa question respecting the abolition of re-
strictive laws that had been argued over and over again.
Bat, after all that had been said on the subject, all the
money that had been spent on the question, and all the
efforts of the Anti-Corn-law League, the same objections
were still offered, and he could but be surprised to think
that now, in the year 1845, those same objections should.
still be made. There never was a question of greater
importance. You find among those who are opposed to
the abolition of the corn•laws a class of objectors
who say there is no necessity for alteration,
but was the commerce of this country of no importance?
and without this were done away with, that
wuuld be seriounly endangered, as was shown by
agricultural countries having become manufac-

taring countries to a considerable extent. In
answer to those who said there was no distress or
clanger of distress, he would call their attention to the
great fact, that in this country population was in the
course of rapid increase. The population of the British
islands was increasing, at the rate 0f,1,100 souls daily, or
to the extent of 380,000 per annum ; and these souls
lad bodies, which must be fed. Yet to feed these it had
been calculated that additional food would be
revired, equal to the produce of two of
the largest counties in the kingdom.—(Hear, bear.)
This one fact was quite sufficient to show the evil opera-
tion of any law that interfered with the free importation
f,,reign corn.—(Hear, hear.) He might be told that
bread was not so dear in price as it had been in former
t
,Imue!, and that therefore there was no pressing danger.
objection was not so much as to what the price
°Nvihiteid might be at present, but to the principle by
I it was artificially raised. If a law
existed which made the food of the people
dearer than what it ought to be, he main-
tained such a law ought not to exist--:a law which
operated to the benefit
of a class to the injury of the
whole community. Another
thobjection taken to the de-
tnonitnticl
e naipapdreethoe
ntldieed t;rseepaeraclit,
was,
corn-laws, and in reply
s,tne
that there did not yet
exit any deficiency of food in
Franc, Spain, other
cont
or even here—that tilt the danger
had been tal c
much exaggerated. This objection, if worth
anything, only amounted to this, because there is as yet
no famine or starvation, therefore we must wait till this
famine or starvation is actually developed
before we
admit any foreign corn duty free. It had also been
much insisted on that a repeal of the protective duty on
corn would injure t!.e agriculturists and the farmers ;
and by many this had been considered a conclusive ar-
gument. He would not, on the present occasion,
take up their time in exposing such a fal-
lacy. It had been so repeatedly knocked down
and depressed, that now it had not the least. basis

The amendment being seconded, was read.
The RECORDER, after a short discussion upon a point
of order, decided that the amendment proposed by Mr,
Lawrence_ was in order.

Mr. CORNEY thought they had better withhold their
clamour on this subject, and leave it in better hands.
Mr. STEVENS thought that the present was the proper
time for the Court to adopt the motion that had been
brought forward. The deficiency of food in the country
called upon the Court to do so. He trusted that the
Court would agree to a memorial to her Majesty, pray-
ing her to take into her consideration the situation of
the country, and support those measures that would
allow free access to food into this country before famine
took place.—(Hear, hear.) He had supported a motion
for the repeal of the corn-laws for years, and he would
support it now.—(Hear, hear.)
Mr. W. JONES had always been an advocate for a
fixed duty, instead of the sliding-scale.—(Hear, hear.)
He believed that the corn-laws were a subject
on which every man might fairly differ. He knew
something of the failure of the potato crop. In a
district in Wales, in which he had a farm, the po-
tato crop on it was deteriorated to the extent of three-
fourths, and yet he was no worse off than his neigh-
beurs. They used a great amount of oatmeal in that
district, principally got from Ireland, and this article,
which a short time ago was 18s. a sack, was now 303.--
(Hear, hear.) He thought something ought to be
done, and hence he cordially supported the original re
solutions.

Mr. NORRIS objected to the amendment proposed. It
was a high and honourable privilege they possessed to
approach her Majesty as memorialists ; and there were

only two courses open to them then—namely, to avail
themselves of this privilege, or to adopt the amendment,
and petition the Legislature on this important subject.
lie objected to the amendment, as it involved a proceed-
ing which was not in agreement with the usages and
Peculiar privileges of that Court. Nor did he think it
the proper course under existing circumstances. The
ease of Holland had been referred to in a previous stage
of the debate, and what, he would ask, was the reason
of the prosperity of that country? Because they were
free-traders in corn, as well as in all other articles of
commerce. A permanent scarcity of food had been the
effects of the corn-laws ever since their adoption ; and
with the increase of the population going forward, it be-
came a matter of nepeople.cessity for them to do something to
provide food for the
Mr. WIRE said he should only occupy the time of the
Court for a very few 'ninnies. He wished to make but
one or two observations on the speech made by his Hon.
Friend beside hits r. Lawreucc, we believe). His Hon.
Friend first apoMned for 14s desertion of his former

opinions, and any gentleman had a perfect right to do so
either in private or in public.—(Laughter.) He (Mr.
Wire) was exceedingly glad to find that in this case the
change in his friend's opinions had been for the better,
for as before they had been for a fixed duty upon corn,
they were now for its total abolition.—(Laughter.)
His Hoa. Friend was following the example set him not
long ago by an illustrious individual, and he was glad to
find that that example was contagious, for it even took
Broad-street in its march, and had reached the heart and
head of its worthy representative, Mr. Deputy Corney,
who had seconded the motion for the abolition of the
corn-laws.—(Continued laughter.) It was his (Mr.
Wire's) intention very shortly to direct his Hon.
Friend's attention to one or two fallacies in his: speech
by the by which was not only for the corn-laws, but
against and beyond the corn laws.—(Laughter.) His
Hon. Friend had stated that his first proposition was
fallacious, as this was nut a question of corn, but of com-
merce. Did the Hon. Member suppose that he could im-
pose this argument for a moment ? did he mean to
say that a question of food was not a question of wages?
—(Hear, hear.) Did it make no difference to the work-
man, if by the abolition of these cruel laws he couli

get a greater quantity of food fora lesser price than at
present?—(Hear, hear.) It was not a question of wages
alone—it was a question of food also.—(Cheers.) But
the Hon. Member had said that they must show how
better food could be had even were the corn-laws abo
lished. Why thus: If the corn-laws were abolished—if
all restrictions on the importation of food were done
away with, then Holland, Poland, Egypt, and America
would pour their grain into Britain, and take her manu-
factures in exchange. Did the Hon. Member not hear
the anecdote told of Mehemet Ali, the present Pacha of
Egypt ? When the imperfect condition of his muskets
was referred to, he said, " True, I know that English
muskets are better, but I have no money to purchase
them. If England should take my corn, then I shall be
enabled to take her muskets in exchange."—(Great
cheering.) And thus would both of these countries be
benefited. But another extraordinary argument of the
Hon. Gentleman's was, that if food were cheap, the people
would be idle. It was all very well to speak of the
delights of labour ; but what man would work
in a heated atmosphere for twelve hours, if ten
hours would be sufficient for his wants? Why
any man would be mad who should do otherwise. His
Hon. Friend had told them not to forget that he was an
advocate for a smaller fixed duty, and yet his friend had
moved the total repeal of those laws. Why, protection
resembled a nurse who denied her child the free air of
Heaven ; the poor thing, deprived of the necessary free-
dom, grew warped and stunted ; and so it was with pro-
tected commerce.—(Hear, hear.) The Hon. Gentleman
admitted that a large proportion of the Irish lived upon
potatoes, but he denied that the same thing held good in
England, Scotland, and Wales. He could assure the
lion. Gentleman that if he had gone through the houses
of the poor in that metropolis, he would have found that
the majority of the poorer classes lived upon potatoes.
--(Hear, hear.) He would not detain them longer, but
he trusted that the original proposition would be carried.
The RECORDER then proceeded to read the original
resolution again.
Mr. LAURANCE wished to make some observations on
the amendment.

The RECORDER said that the debate was closed, and
the amendment was then before the Court, and that he
could not speak upon it.
Mr. LAURANCE said that it was only the day before
yesterday that the Lord Mayor had ruled that he could
speak upon the amendment, under similar circumstances.
The LORD MAYOR said that the amendment had been
spoken upon, and could not be deb:ted agaiu.
The RECORDER said that the original question having
been di; cussed, and the amendment having been de-
bated on. The Lord Mayor was of opinion that at
that stage of the proceedings no further observations
could be listened to.

The amendment was then put, and only six were
against.

—Mr. GADSDEN then said that the petition called on
the Queen to exercise her constitutional prerogative, and
cause such measures to be taken as would meet the exi-
gencies of the people.
A Member rose to order.
Mr. GADSDEN said that he was simply going to move,
as an amendment, " That this Court is of opinion, that
it is inexpedient at this moment to interfere, either
by petition or otherwise, in this important question, in-
asmuch as it believes that the Alinistry has been dissolved,
and that it would prefer in the present state of affairs to
add to her Majesty's embarrassment, and that, there-
fore, the further discussion of the subject should be post-
poned." He proposed this amendment, as he believed
that Lord John Russell had it all his own way, and
it would not be too much to ask him to wait until Parlia-
ment assembled.—(Loud cries of " No, no.")
The amendment was then put, and negatived by a
large majority.
A MEMBER then handed up another amendment, and
the Recorder was proceeding to read it, when
Another MEMBER asked if any amendment could be
read by the Recorder until it had been properly proposed
and seconded.
Sir C. MARSHALL seconded the resolution.
The RECORDER then read it aloud. He moved "That
the Parliament of the United Kingdom should proceed
to establish a fixed and moderate duty."
The amendment which excited great merriment in
the Court was, after some little confusion and desultory
conversation withdrawn.

The original resolutions were then put and carried by
an all but unanimous rote.

Mr. WISE then moved that a loyal and dutiful
address and petition be presented to her Majesty,
founded on the resolutions jnst agreed to, and
praying that she will use all the means
in her power to effect the opening of the Ports• for the
free importation of food.
The motion being seconded,
Mr. LAWRENCE moved as an amendment, to the effect
that it be mentioned in the address, •6 That on the
opening of Parliament, her Majesty be requested to re-
commend a fixed duty on corn of 6s. per quartei-.
Mr. Pima seconded the amendment, as one, which,
if adopted by the Court, would reflect great credit on it.
Mr. R. TAYLOR objected to their being called on to
support a principle which all parties in the state had
now repudiated.

The ;amendment on being put was negatived by an
immense majority, only two voting for it. The orginal
motion was then put and carried, with the same number
of dissentients.

Mr. WIRE then moved a resolution that the address
to:her Majesty be presented in the usual form,
.which
was also agreed to.
A deputation of five members was then appointed to
prepare the address, and immediately after they retired
to draw it up.

Upon their return, after an absence of ten minutes,
strangers were ordered to withdraw. During our ab•
sence, we understand the address was read and agreed
to, and the Court adjourned a quarter past five o'clock.

EXCHEQUER.—(THIS DAY.)
Sittings in Guildall at Nisi Prius, before the Lord
Chief Justice, and a Common Jury.)
GOODWIN V. COLLINS.
This was an action of assumpsit for a breach of con-
tract, the declaration alleging that the plaintiff's wife
kept a school, at which the defendant formerly had two
children, but he subs quently took them away without
giving he usual quarter's notice, which formed the
breach of contract. The defendant had pleaded the ge-
neral issue, and that the plaintiff was not ready and
willing to proceed with the schooling of the two children.
Mr. James appeared for the plaintiff, and Mr. Ser-
geant Gazeley for the defendant.
Mr. JAMES stated the plaintiff's case. The plaintiff
was a merchant's clerk, and he sought by the present
action to recover 131.25. 6d. for a breach of a usual and
ordinary character. The plaintiff some short time ago
married a lady named Hogg, who for some years pre-
viously had kept a school at Belgrave Lodge, Merton-
place, Turnham-green, At Easter, 1842, the defendant,
who was a gentleman of considerable property residing
at Sunbury, placed two of his daughters, together with
a young lady named Matthews, at Miss Hogg's school.
The children remained at school till the Christmass of
1844, when they went home for the usual vacation. In
the following January, however, only one of them re-
turned, and the consequence was, that the plaintiff, who
was now married to Miss Hogg, wrote a letter to the
defendant, complaining that he had neglected to give the
usual quarter's notice of his intentien to remove his
daughter from the school, and intimating that either the
notice or the quarter's schooling money would be in-
sisted upon. The defendant refused to give either, and
the present action was brought in consequence of that
refusal. The contract alleged to have been broken was
contained in Miss Hogg's prospectus, which stated that
there was no entrance fees required on entering the
school, but it was expected that parents would give a
quarter's notice before they removed their children from
the establishment.
Miss Hogg, the plaintiff's sister-in--law, was called
to prove the facts stated by the Learned Counsel. She
said she was ene of the teachers of the establishment,
and could state positively that it was an invariable cus-
tom to give a quarter's notice before any pf the scholars
were removed from the academy. The defendant was
made aware of this custom at the time his children en-
tered the school, and it was upou these terms that her
sister consented to undertake their tuition.
The witness was cross- examined at some length by
Mr. Sergeant Gazeley, with the view of showing that
the system of education pursued at the plaintiff's school
was both defective and immoral. She admitted having
read a sermon produced by the Learned Sergeant in the ;
presence of one of the defendant's daughters and a
junior tutor of the academy, a young lady between 14
and 15 years of age, and said she saw nothing objec-
tionable in it.

,ir. JAMES said he was sorry to interrupt his Learned
Friend, but really he could not for the life of him see
what this sermon qad to do with the case.
Mr. Sergeaht GAZELEY insisted that it had every-
thing to do with the case, for he intended to read it for
the purpose of showing that the plaintiff's wife was un-
willing to teach the defendant's children in the ordinary
and proper way. His Learned Friend had mis-
taken the defendant's plea. It was not that
the plaintiff's wife was unwilling to take
back the children, but that she was unwilling to teach
them with propriety and decorum. The Learned Ser-
geant then read the objectionable sermon, amidst the
laughter of a crowded Court. It was the copy or note
of a sermon purporting to have been preached by the
Rev. C-- C--, who took his text from the 29th
chap. of Genises, the 10th verse:—" And Jacob kissed
Rachel." The sermon opened by asserting that it was a
universal practice amongst the ancients to indulge in
the practice of kissing, and declaring that the practice
was strongly recommended by the Scriptures. It was
honourable to the present age that this example of the
antients was enthusiastically and strictly followed, and
the preacher proposed to take upon himself the task- of
considering, first, the meaning of the term " kissing
secondly, the important duty of kissing ; and thirdly,;

to stand upon.—(Hear, hear.) The farmers had been
cranpletely gulled with this barefaced fallacy by their
pretended friends, and so lost sight of their true inte-
rests and that dependence which they should place in
their own resources. Comparing this country with
another European country, he found that the latter was
more heavily taxed than this --a country where the
labourers were better paid, whose climate was not so
good, where general advantages were much inferior, and
and yet one that managed to export a large amount of
agricultural produce to foreign countries.—(Cheers.)
The country to which he referred was Holland. In
looking at the statistical account of the British empire
published by an eminent writer and first-rate authority,

THE SUN, LONDON, THURSDAY EVENING, DECEMBER 11, 1845.

to represent or describe the pleasure attendant upo
the performance of the duty of kissing. The sermon
then proct eied to contend that kissing was not to be
taken in the ordinary acceptation of the term, as mean-
ing a simple salute or smabking of the lips, but it was
used in the text as intending to convey, and did in fact
invariably convey, the idea of embrscing. The ser-
mon extended to a great length in this strain of argu-
ment, and after dwelling upon the pleasures derivable
from the practice of kissing or embracing wound up with
a general recommendation, that it was a duty incumbent
upon every lady never to loose an opportunity for in-
dulging in the practice of kissing. The witness said she
allowed one of the defendant's daughters to copy this ser-
man, and take it home with her.
The LORD CHIEF BARON—WouId it not have been
better had the defendant taken his daughter from the
school on the first receipt of this letter ?
Mr. Sergeant GAZELEY—So he did, my Lord, and
this is our answer to the action. The children never
returned after this sermon went home.
Mr. JAMES—I doubt that. You admit that one of
them did return at all events. Now, Miss Hogg, when
did this effusion go home to Mr. Coiling ? Witness—l
think it was before Christmas, 1844.
Mr. JAMES—When was it written ? Witness—At
the end of 1844.

Mr. JAMES—Were you the author of the sermon ?
Witness—No, it was given to me by my brother-in-law.
Mr. JAMES—The plaintiff ? Witness—No ; another
brother-in-law.

Mr. JAMES—Did the defendant ever make any objec-
tion to this sermon ? Witness—No, he did not. I never
heard one word of complaint upon that point till to-day.
Mr. Collins himself read it to me when I called at his
house, and he appeared to be much amused with it.
A juror asked the witness if she had any idea of the
object Mr. Collins had in view in reading it to her ?
Witness—No, indeed I have not. He read it over to me
in the presence of his wife and his two children, and
they all laughed at it most heartily.
This was the plaintiff's case.

Mr. Serjeant GAGELET then addressed the jury,
commenting upon the licentiousness of the sermon,
and declaiming that it was one of the causes
which induced the defendant to remove his
children from the school. But he had another defence
to the action. At the time Mr. Collins placed his children
and Miss Mathews at the plaintiff's school, it was under-
stood that the defendant was to be at liberty to remove
them without giving the usual quarter's notice.
A witness was called to prove this fact ; after which
Mr. JANES replied.
The Learned LORD CHIEF BARON then summed up,
remarking, that there were two questions for the con-
sideration of the jury. Firstly, did the defendant
remove his children from the plaintiff's school,
in consequence of the sermon ? If so he had made
out out his second plea, and their verdict upon
it must be in his favour. Secondly, was the quarter's
notice dispensed with by the plaintiff, and if it was, then,
again, the verdict must be for the defendant ; if not, it
must be for the plaintiff
The jury retired, and after 'an absence of about
half an hour, returned into Court with a ver-
dict for the defendant, on the first issue, and
with regard to the second, the jury found
that there was no evidence to show that the defendant
removed his children in consequence of the sermon, and
therefore his Lordship directed the verdict to be entered
for the plaintiff on that issue.

COMMON PLEAS.-(THIS DAY.)
(Sittings in London at Nisi Prius, before the LORD
CHIEF JUSTICE and a Special Jury.)
THE FISHMONGERS' COMPANY v. ROBINSON AND OTHERS.
This was an action for the penalty upon a deed
of contract for the drainage of lands belonging to
the plaintiffs, adjoining the Sea-lake called the Lough
Foyle, in the North of England.
the cause was tried before, and the plaintiffs obtained
a verdict with damages is., the effect being to enable
them to enforce the contract and recover costs.

Churchill, bring a horse through the gate ; it was a dark
horse, and the one she had seen down stairs was it.
Mrs. Rawling proved that the cart was taken front her
on the 23d ult. by the two male prisoners, and she added
that no paper, either the pretended will or the receipts
that she had yet seen, were in her husband's hand-
writing.

Inspector Busain said that when the charge against
the prisoners was taken, a young man, named Forman,
said he had bought the horse for 10s., and the cart for
255., of Mr. Rawling, and produced two receipts pur-
porting to be his, but one was dated the day Rawling
died, and the other the day after.
Mr. PAYNTER asked what the broker had done with
the money the sale realised ? Mr. Gilham said he un-
derstood that he had paid 10/. to Mrs. Churchill, who
had undertaken to support the children, but had that
same day thrown them on the parish.
Mr. PAYNTER said it was clear that the broker could
not act upon any document the deceased might have
given him after the man was dead. The widow was the
proper adrninistratrix, and was .at least entitled to her
thirds, therefore the broker had acted illegally ; he con-
sidered it just possible that a felony had been committed,
and there certainly was not much doubt of a gross con-
spiracy existing, therefore he should remand the pri-
soners until Saturday. Should the case then fail, he
trusted the solicitor would indict the parties for conspi-
racy, and he thought that Mr. Stewart, the broker,
should be included in that indictment.
WOOLWICH.

John Mikan, alias William Thompson, alias Dempsey,
alias Williams, was placed at the bar before Mr. Jeremy
for final examination, charged with stealing two watches
under the following circumstances :
The prisoner is an experienced duffer, and in the pur-
suit of his calling he went some time since to the Royal
Artillery Barracks, at Woolwich, where he exchanged
several of his so-called watches for good old watches be-
longing to the gunners and non-commissioned officers,
receiving sums of money in addition, by way of exchange.
A few hours after the victimised soldiers received their
watches the latter stopped, and the soldiers as well as
their watches were found to be " wound up." When
the prisoner again made his appearance at the barracks,
he was given into custody on the charge of being found
within that establishment for an unlawful purpose. The
charge, however, was not proved, and the prisoner was
in consequence allowed to go at large OA his own recog-
nizance, several spurious watches which were found
.upon him being detained by the police. In the meantime
inquiries were made by the police, and the frauds on the
soldiers being discovered, the prisoner, who returned to
claim the property, was taken into custody on the charge
of stealing two watches, Mr. Jeremy stating that the
judges were of opinion that where an articte of no in-
trinsic value was sold to a person who could not detect
the fraud, it amounted to felony.'
It was proved by a respectable watchmaker that the
watches sold by the prisoner were valueless in every-
thing except the cases, which were worth from 15s. to
20s. each; that they would not go for a longer period
than a few hours, or at most a day or two, and that the
watches taken in exchange were of far greater value.
It was also proved by various witnesses that the pri-
soner passed under a variety of names, and that he was
not known at his lodgings in Aldersgate-street by the
name which was on the cards he carried with him.
George Foster, 425 of the City police, proved that he
knew the prisoner as the companion of a man named
Dempsey, who was now undergoing a term of imprison-
ment for a similar offence.

The defendant since obtained a rule for this new trial,
which will( occupy at least another day.
Mr. M. H. Hill, Mr. Sergeant Channell, and Mr.
Borde appeared for the plaintiffs; Mr. Sergeant Tal-
feurd, Mr. Crowder, Mr. Sergeant tfurnphry, Mr. Ser-
geant Byles, and Mr. Hindmarsh for the defendants.

A dock constable, named John Sayer, spoke to several
heartless frauds committed by the prisoner on sailors and
others in the London Docks.

DEATH OF SDI W. REID, BART.---.WE understand
that accounts have been received fro►n Ceylon of the death of
Sir W. Reid, Bart., of Barra, who died on the 20th October,
on his passage from the Mauritius. The deceased Baronet
had only succeeded his brother, Sir John Reid, within the
last few months. The deceased was born in 1795.

The prisoner was committed for trial, and the w
nesses bound over to prosecute.

POLICE INTELLIGENCE.
WORSHIP-STREET.
STEALING NEWSPAPERS.--John Travers, a middle-
aged person, of respectable appearance, who stated him-
self to be a clerk in the City, was examined before Mr.
Broughton on a charge of stealing an evening news-
paper, the property of Mr. Kirton, a coffee-house keeper
in the City-road.
'1 he complainant said the prisoner had taken break-
fast at his house every morning for a fortnight, and was
in the habit of collecting upon his table the papers of
the preceding evening, some of which were, on every
occasion, missed directly after his departure. Com-
plainant himself had watched pretty closely, and had di-
rected the waitress also to watch the prisoner, but could
never detect him in the act, although they always missed
the papers afterwards. On Saturday morning last the
prisoner came, and had breakfast as usual, and was ob-
served to place two evening papers under a morning
paper that he was reading, and the moment he went out,
complainant, discovering that one of them was gone,
followed the prisoner and asked him what he had done
with it. He replied that he had handed it to another
gentleman in the room ; but being asked to go back to
the house, he was then told that the paper was not in
the room, and that he must have pocketed it, on which
he took the paper out of his pocket, and giving it to
the complainant, said he had never taken one before,
and he hoped the matter would not be further proceeded
with. He was, however, handed over to the police.
Police-constable 226 G said, on the way to the station-
house the prisoner told him that, having much leisure
for reading at his office in the City, he took the paper
with him for that purpose, and that if Mr. Kirton
pressed the charge against him he should be a ruined
man.

The complainant now said he took in twelve news-
papers daily, and had to send several of them (including
the one in question) into the country by post on the day
after publication, so that, besides the actual value, the
loss of them was a serious inconvenience. He could
swear that some of them were missed every time that
the prisoner had been there. He also said there were
several other coffeehouse-keepers present who knew the
prisoner, and had always lost papers in the same way
when he visited their rooms, and not at other times. The
complainant wished the Magistrate to dispose of the case
summarily, but
Mr. BROUGHTON said he could not do that, and the
depositions were taken for the committal of the prisoner,
who, however, was admitted to bail for his appearance
at the sessions for trial.
WANDS I3'ORTH.
James Churchill, sen., and James Churchill, jun., father
and son, were charged with stealing a cart, value 3/., and
Eleanor Churchill, the daughter of the first-mentioned
prisoner, was also charged with stealing a chesnut horse,
value 71.
Mr. Gilham, who apppeared for the prosecutor, said
the person on whose behalf he had been instructed to
appear was a Mrs. Rawling, who, until within a brief
period, carried on an excellent business as a laundress,
at Barnes, and enjoyed the confidence of her employers
and the respect of her neighbours. His client was
married in January last to a man named Bawling, she
being a widow, and he a widower with five children.
Some time since, her husband, who, since his marriage,
had done but little for the maintenance of himself or
children, became unwell, and exhibited all the appear-
ances of imbecility. Amongst the notions he enter-
tained were these, that Salt-bill belonged to him, and
that his wife had robbed him of' 2001., although he was
never worth so many pence. So convinced was he of
the latter circumstance, that he actually sent one of his
children for a policeman to apprehend his wife. After
having shown the state of the deceased's mind, he would
show how far the prisoners stood affected. On the 14th
ult., Mrs. Churchill and Mrs. Eastman, two of the
husband's sisters, called at the house, and under pre-
tence of taking him a ride, took him away. Mrs.
Rawling subsequently ascertained that her husband was
at Mrs. Churchill's house, and she went there for the
purpose of seeing him. This the elder Churchill refused
to let her do, and he took her by the shoulders and put
her out of the house. At that time her husband was
alive, but died a day or two afterwards. Whilst his
client was gone to deliver some clothes in town, a man
was put in possession of her goods. As she owed no
rent, she asked the man what business he had there ;
when he replied that he had been put in by Mr. Stewart,
a broker at Putney. This Stewart afterwards took every
article of furniture out of the house, even to the bed she
and her children lay upon, and sold them ; thus leaving
the poor widow and children utterly unprovided for, and
when called upon for his authority, produced what he
called the will of the husband, empowering him to act as
he had done. Prior to this his client's horse was stolen
out of the field by the female prisoner, and sold to a man
named Forman, who was paying his addresses to her, for
10s., although it was worth 7Z; and, to complete the list
of enormities his client was subjected to, she was on a
particular evening returning home from town in her
own cart, with a borrowed horse, when the two male
prisoners stopped her on Barnes-common, turned all her
linen out of the cart, unharnessed the hone, and stole
the cart, which they afterwards sold for 255. He be-
lieved he should be in a position to prove that the de-
ceased was not in a state to make a will ; and, even if he
had been, that the prisoners had acted a most fraudulent
part ; so that if the actual charges of felony could not
be maintained, there still existed a case of the grossest
conspiracy.
Mr. PAYNTER observed that if it could be proved that
the man was imbecile at the time of his death, a very,
serious charge existed against the prisoners.
Mr. Gil ham had no doubt he should satisfactorily prove
his imbecility.
Rebecca Rawling was then sworn—She said she was
the widow of James Rawling, who died at the elder
Churchill's house on the 19th ult. The complainant then
detailed in evidence the facts given in the solicitor's
statement.

MONEY MARKET and CITY NEWS.
CITY, WEDNESDAY EVENING.
CHRONICLE.—The manner of paying the railway
deposits to the Accountant- General has been resusitated,
and various rumours are in circulation with respect to it.
, The amount has been stated at as much as 35,000,0001.,
and it is asserted that the Speaker has consented to
allow the Bank to take payment by instalments. The
latter statement is said to be on authority, but we
doubt its authenticity nevertheless. We also greatly
discredit the supposed amount of railway deposits, and,
until we see it proved, shall not believe that it will
amount to more, if to so much, as 10,000,0001. or
15,000,0001. Many companies hare deposited their
plans who have not obtained the deposits called for from
the allottees, and will not new be able to proceed to
Parliament. If, however, so large a sum as 15,000,000/.
or even 10,000,000/. or less, were taken out of circula-
tion, in coin and bank-notes, it would be attended with a
severe pressure for money, It requires no science to
arrive at that conclusion. Nobody can doubt it for a mo-
ment. Such being the case, it is the duty of the Execu •
Live to meet the evil by timely arrangement. It appears to
us that the Bank of England can receive payment in any
form the directors may think fit, because the Accountant-
General has simply to see the " receipt" of the cashier.
He is not called upon to direct the manner of making
the payment. That is left to be settled between payers
and receivers. An agreement could be made to provide
for any fluctuation in the price of the public securities,
but if bills of exchange were accepted the Bank would
be answerable, in the event of default, to retire them
when they arrived at maturity. It must be admitted
that there is no evidence to warrant the supposition that
the Legislature contemplated the use of bills of ex-
change in effecting the transfer of the railway deposits.
It was assumed that the transfer should be made by a
bona fide payment of money from the various banks and
cpmmittees holding the deposits to the Bank of England.
This, we believe, cannot be disputed ; neither can it be
, denied that the extent of the operation has far exceeded
in magnitude anything contemplated. The Legislature
never anticipated the possibility, far less the proba-
bility, that so much as 10,000,0001., 15,000,0001., or
30,000,000 L could be called for to comply with the
standing orders, within fourteen days after the com-
mencement of any session of Parliament. An unforseen
emergency has arisen, for which no provision has been
made. We are convinced that it may be managed
without producing serious inconvenience, and that it is
not necessary to make the transfer in coin and bank
notes. At the same time we do not believe the story
that the Speaker has consented to take payment of the
money by instalments. We disbelieve that statement,
because the Speaker has not the power to do so. The
object might be attained, however, by a short Act, to be
introduced for the purpose the first day that Parliament
meets ; and, on the assumption that it would pass, the
transaction could be arranged in the meantime, accord-
ing to its provisions. With this object in view, the Bank
might be authorised to receive Stock, Exchequer Bills,
and other unexceptionable securities in payment, and to
lend out the same, when received, on suitable terms, ac-
cording to circumstances. _ _

The following are the official returns of the exports of
the precious metals from the port of London for the
week ending Thursday last :
Silver bars to Rotterdam
Silver bars to Hamburgh
Silver coin to River Gambia

TIMES.—An impression has prevailed to some ex-
tent in the City that the efforts of the Anti-Corn -law
League, should the repeal of those laws take place, will
next be directed against all customs' duties whatever ;
but this is disclaimed by some persons of that party,
who allege that it is against differential duties alone
that the efforts of free traders are, and will be, directed.
Thus, to illustrate this, they remark, that excessive
customs' duties are no doubt unwise, but that they may
exist in perfect harmony with free trade doctrines. If
the duty, for example, upon all descriptions of sugar, no
matter whence imported, should be raised to the exist-
ing rate of 635., charged on foreign sugar, such a step
would fail to accomplish its object of yielding revenue,
but it would be quite in agreement with free trade
principles. This is an exceedingly important point,
and the subject is well worthy of being pursued further.
The last new expedient, according to a correspondent,
resorted to by railway companies who find themselves
in a situation all but desperate, has been that of
treating the original letters of application as
successful, even though the shares were in the first in-
stance differently apportioned, and calling upon the
applicants to pay the deposits. This may be thought
ingenious by the parties, but that it should produce them
any money is barely possible. The annexed suggestion
will have a formidable sound in the ears of some pro-
visional committee men and railway promoters, but it is
nevertheless obvious that if such practices have been re-
sorted to they will merit as severe a retribution
" The deposits of plans of projected railways with the
Board of Trade being done under the authority of a
standing order of each House of Parliament, I presume
that mere colourable deposit of plans only to answer the
purpose of the registered projectors would be deemed
a breach of privilege of Parliament. Therefore, I hope
and trust, if any such scheme should be brought under
the notice of the Commissioners of the Board, they will
make special report thereof to the Houses of Parliament,
and that each House will resolve accordingly, and order
the Attorney• General to prosecute the parties."
Noth

Mr. PAINTER, after hearing the evidence of Mrs.
Rawling, said as he did not intend to go into the case
very fully that day, and as Mr. Clive was more ac-
quainted with the facts than himself, he would only hear
evidence sufficient to justify him remanding tho pri-
soners to a day that his brother magistrate would be
sitting.

ling could be better devised than Nicoll's Re-
gistered Paletot to suit the ever-varied nature of our climate,
forming, as it now does, not only the sine qua non of the
railway traveller, but is equally so adapted for any gentleman
taking out-door exercise. It may be said distinctly to mark
the costume of the nineteenth century, if that is rightly
called marked which is only conspicuous for an unpretending
and graceful bearer, the wearer feeling so much at ease.
Certainly as an over-coat it is patronised highly, and is also
a general public favourite, being so peculiarly English, and
avoiding all foreign extravagance of style. It must be ac-
knowledged as a vast improvement over the old great coat,
associated in our remembrance with an uncomfortable sensa-

Anne Humphries, an intelligent girl, about 13 years
of age, living at the Gate-house on Baines-common,
proved that on the 21st ult., between ten and eleven
o'clock in the morning, she gliN the priscl-Nr, gleAnor

tion of tight buttonings, which, from its very clumsiness,
defeated its object, the warmth of the person, as interfering
with the proper circulation of the blood. The principal hues
are black, blue, brown, and olive; also the clerical mixture
called oxford, and can be had of the patentees, or only of
the most respectable clothiers out of London. Every winter
paletot is three guineas, and is stampted in the lining with
the words, "Registered 6 and 7 Vie., cap. 65. H. J. and D.
Nicoll, 114, Regent-street, London.
TEE WONDER or WONDERS.—AR enormous bear
fed upon bread for the last twelve months, challenges com-
parison with any of the prizes at the Bazaar. This animal
will be exhibited dead and dressed, so as to show the depth
of fat, during Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, and Saturday,
the four days of the cattle-show, in front of Mr. Ray's pre-
mises, No. 8, King-street, Baker street, two doors only from
the Bazaar, and was fattened by those celebrated perrequiers,
perfumers, hair-cutters, and hair-dyers, Messrs. Ross and
Sons, 119, Bishopsgate-street, London, of whom only can the
genuine bear's-grease be obtained.
[ADVERTISEMENT.]—COUGHS, COLDS, ASTHMAS,
AND WHEEZINGS ON THE CHEST, CURED EY HOLLOWAY'S
PILLS.—When no other medicine will afford the least relief in
bad coughs and colds, Holloway's Pills will almost immediately
effect a cure in any case, however desperate ; and what is more
extraordinary, asthmas and wheezings, even if of several years'
standing, may be completely got rid of by following the direc-
tions which accompany each box of this celebrated medicine.
Many who were nearly at death's door, not being able to lay
down in their beds, fearing to be choked with phlegm, have
had asthmatic complain:, so effectually eradicated that not the
least symptoms remained. Sold by all druggists, and at Pro-
fessor Holloway's .Establishment, 244, Strand, London.