The Sun.
London, England, 1842-04-04 00:00:00

ptrigLxc OPINION.

The Herald observes, with reference. to the late Lin-
coln Agricultural Meeting :--" As to the main business
of the meeting, we must allow that—differing as we do
from many of his propositions, the true nature of the dif-
ficulty under which the Conservative opponents of Sir
Robert Peel's Corn-law scheme are placed, in relation to
the seeming discrepancy between their conduct in Parlia-
ment and their professions out of it—is well and frankly
explained
Christopher. lie appears to have had
a much recollection of the operation, and
moreb)- M
ac r
accurate
rate
the cogency of the forms of the House than some gen-
tlemen present at the meeting who had occupied seats
in Parliament. He premised his first speech by stating,
that with regard to the duties on foreign corn, the pro-
position was a whole measure, and must be accepted or
opposed as such—that he was sure the feeling of mem-
bers of the House of Commons representing- the agricul-
tural interest was general—that, were it possible to
obtain a larger amount of protection than the Ministerial
measure afforded, and to secure it permanently, they
ought to unite to carry it into effect, let the consequences
to the present Ministry be what they might."
The following is from the Advertiser:—" Let it not
be supposed, because there seems to be little chance of
driving Sir Robert Peel from his purpose of setting up
a new inquisition at Somerset House, or of inducing the
House of Commons to interpose between the self-willed
Minister and the threatened infliction, that the opposi-
tion with which the measure is everywhere assailed out
of doors will therefore be without its effect. Sir Robert
Peel may carry his proposition for an inquisitorial tax
with a high hand ; he threatens to do so, and the tyrant
majority will do his bidding. The House of Commons
is the Minister's bed of justice ; the farce of deliberation
and discussion may be introduced, but it is the will of
the Minister which decides the question. For our own
parts, we think that great and permanent good will arise
out of the course which the Minister and his adherents in
the Commons seem resolved upon pursuing. The Tory
House of Commons was begotten in the disgust with
which the Whigs had managed to inspire the constitu-
encies for their party ; and however much the Tories
may presume upon their own luck, it will not be long,
ere they find that their
vaulting ambition has over-
leaped itself.'"
The Chronicle says—" The opposition to the income
tax in the country is much more determined than in the
metropolis. In our columns this day will be found re-
ports of a meeting at Edinburgh on the 29th ult., the
Lord Provost in the chair; a meeting of the Merchants'
Company at Edinburgh on the same day; and of a meet
ing at Leeds on the 30th ult. ; at all which resolutions
were carried strongly condemning the income tax. A
meeting at Manchester to pass resolutions against the
tax was held yesterday. But, as we have already ob-
served, it is against the corn bill, and the tariff, and
more especially the latter, that the opposition threatens
to become the most formidable. Besides the meeting at
Lincoln, at which a meeting of the county on Monday
next was agreed on, already referred to by us, of which
we this day give a more ample account, a meeting of the
Brigg Agricultural Association was held in the Angel
Inn of that place, on Thursday week, at which strong
resolutions against the corn bill and the tariff were una-
nimously voted."
We take the following from the Post :—" The really
practical objection to an income tax is that human na-
ture does not easily bear that which is palpable, direct,
and honest. There is a kind of satisfaction in hiding
from one-self that one pays a tax, by mixing it up with
the price of the commodity in daily use. Therefore, if
all persons consumed taxable commodities in proportion
to their incomes, this indirect taxation were by far the
best. But as they do not, and as it is necessary to get
toll for the State from people's incomings as well as their
pe
out-goings, there is no alternative but to ask for a con-
tribution in a sha of which every payer must be cog-
nisant and conscious."
The Times, speaking of the workhouse system, and
the case of John Marshall, says :—" John Marshall,
having Made trial of poor law relief in the Peckham
workhouse, when in a state of the most extreme and
pitiable destitution, found it something worse than
starvation itself, and deliberately embraced starvation as
the preferable alternative. It is also certain that, when

very near the point when nature could bear up no longer,
he chose to pass a very cold night, foodless, houseless,
anttalmost naked, in a hovel by the side of the public
road, rather than make use of a ticket for admission to
the workhouse at Edmonton. Nor is it less certain that
the Magistrate before whom he was brought (or the gen-
tleman by whom the Magistrate was advised) considered
a prison, even with the accompaniment of hard labour,
a titter place than a workhouse for a starving man."
MONEY-TRADE-COMMERCII.
By comparison with the first quarter of 1841, the port
of Gloucester "shows an increase in the foreign trade of
about two-thirds.

From the report of the Society of Widows and Or-
phans of Medical Men, read at their meeting on Wednes-
day, it appeared that the sum of 6321. had been granted
for the past half-year to 31 widows and 14 children, and
that 100 L had been funded.

Several cargoes of Tuscany wheat have lately been
landed at the port of Perth, and put into bond, waiting
the issue of the new Corn Bill. It is the growth of the
Crimea ; fine coloured and strong, and bakes well.
A run upon the Renfrewshire Bank took place on
Thursday , in consequence of orders received from
head. quarters at Edinburgh, by the branch of the Glas-
gow Bank to decline receiving their notes ; the precise
result is not yet known.