The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1842-06-21 00:00:00

SOUTH AUSTRALIA

In the South Australian papers received to the 31st of
January, appears the report of a meeting of the colonists to
consider what means could be adopted to alleviate their pre-
sent financial distress, whiCh is stated to have pressed heavily
upon every department of business. The meeting originated
with the members of the Chamber of Commerce, who seem
to have investigated as far as they were able the causes pro-
ducing this state of things, and which are chiefly alleged to
be the expenses incidental to the formation of a new colony,
and the slow progress of capital in comparison to what is
really required to be expended to put trade in a satisfactory
and working order. It also seems that the abstraction of
capital to purchase stock, &c., had led to such a great dimi-
nution of the circulation of the banks, that there is really
now not sufficient to meet the actual wants of business ; that,
in fact, while the colony is perfectly solvent, there is not the
cash necessary to meet engagements between parties. A
consultation had taken place between a deputation of the
Chamber and the banks, and it was agreed, as was stated at
the meeting, that the most beneficial plan to be adopted
would be as much forbearance as possible between the mer-
cantile and agricultural community. Various suggestions for
other relief, such as the drawing upon the home authorities
for £llO,OOO to be circulated among the colonists, and
eventually repaid by local taxation, which was the idea of
Captain O'Halloran, were made, but all were rejected, in
consequence of the insurmountable difficulties they presented,
and the majority were most decidedly in favour of the adop-
tion of the plan of " general forbearance" laid down in the
report of the committee, as the sole, safe, and practical course
for permanent relief. The banks have agreed in common
with the community to exercise as much forbearance as pos-
sible, and to continue an extension of their accommodation
within prudent limits. To exhibit the state of the colony
founded on the data placed before the public in the report of
the committee before alluded to, it should be stated that the
obligations to be disbursed are set down at £280,000, and
that the sources of production are calculated to yield
£986,567. The report states that so great was the abstrac-
tion of capital in the purchase of the necessaries of life, that
it is computed the importations under that head in the year
1840 amounted in value to £277,299. Now, it is stated the
lands have been got so far into culture as to supply hereafter
the greater proportion from the soil of the colony, thus ren-
dering in a great degree importation unnecessary. The esti-
mated liabilities of the colony are set forth as £lBO,OOO due
to the banks ; £50,000 due on consignments, after deducting
wool and oil of this season, in course of shipment ; and
£50,000 on mortgages of English and colonial capitalists.
In the Adelaide provision market prices are quoted—Wheat,
7s. to Bs. per bushel; barley, ss. to 6s. per bushel ; potatoes,
£8 per ton ; bread, 10d. to ls. the 41b. loaf; beef, 3d. to sd.
per pound ; mutton, 4d. to 6d. per pound ; and veal and
pork, Bd. to 10d. per pound.

REVIEW OF THE CORN TRADE DURING THE
PAST WEEK.

(From the Britannia)

In the neighbourhood of the metropolis no rain has fallen
since our last, and, the temperature having been very high,
vegetation is suffering from drought. In some parts of the
west of England, as also in Scotland and Ireland, there have
been partial showers ; still moisture is greatly wanted, par-
ticularly for spring corn, in almost all parts of the kingdom.
Respecting the growing crop of wheat there are a good many
complaints ; and, tatting the good and bad together, the yield
even with favourable weather can searcely be expected to
produce a full average. Barley and oats, as well as beans
and peas, are daily receiving more or less injury from
drought; but, with a seasonable supply of rain, they would
probably recover and yield well, both in quality and quantity.
The high price lately obtained for fresh thrashed qualities on
wheat, and the fear that a portion of the foreign now in bond
at the different maritime ports may soon he entered for home
use, have induced farmers to supply the markets pretty
freely ; and the demand having, at the same time, rather
fallen off, the trade has become dull. At Liverpool, on
Tuesday, English, as well as duty-paid foreign wheat, was
difficult of disposal, though offered Id. to 2d. per 701bs. be-
low the currency of that day se'nnight. Oats and barley
were, on the other hand, held with increased firmness, and
the value of both these articles continued to tend upwards.
Oatmeal was still in request for shipment to Ireland, but the
high prices asked checked business, and the operations were
not on so extensive a scale as they had previously been. At
Hull there was a fair show of farmers' wheat on Tuesday, only
the finest parcels of which found buyers at former rates, other
descriptions being offered at is. per qr. less. The Leeds
market was also well supplied with this grain, and its value
had a decided downward tendancy, At Bristol on Thursday
there was a steady demand for good fresh parcels of wheat
at former rates ; and oats advanced is. to 2s. per quarter.
The Birmingham market the same day was very thinly at-
tended, and the general runs of wheat receded about Is. per
quarter ; most other articles were the turn dearer. At Mark-
lane on Monday we bad only a moderate shew of wheat from
Essex and Kent, and from Suffolk the supply was small. The
demand, even of the very best conditioned samples, was less
active than the week previous; and before the stands could
be cleared of the ordinary kinds, slightly reduced terms had
to be acceded to. On Wednesday there was scarcely any-
thing fresh up, and though the inquiry was of a still more re-
stricted character than in the beginning of the week, no actual
abatement took place. The transactions in duty paid foreign
wheat have since our last been on quite a limited scale, the
little business done, however, has been at nearly former
prices. The duty fell to Ils. per quarter yesterday, and from
the present position of the averages (the last return for the
kingdom 635. 6c1., being Is. 10d. per quarter higher), there
seems a probability of a further fall taking place in the course
of a few weeks. Comparatively few parcels of bonded wheat
have changed hands, the extravagant pretensions of holders
have checked speculation. Really sound fresh qualities of
flour have met a steady sale, and realised quite as much mo-
ney, but prices of secondary sorts have tended downward.
With barley we have been sparingly supplied, and sweet
grinding samples have risen at the least one shilling per
quarter within the last eight days. Malt has moved
off slowly, but good seasoned parcels have commanded fully
as high prices as before. The arrivals of English Oats have
been moderate, and from Scotland and Ireland the receipts
have been trifling in the extreme. On Monday fine corn
was generally quoted Is. per quarter higher than on that day
se'nnight; and on Wednesday a further advance was insisted
on, the dealers consequently became more cautious in their
operations, though evidently anxious to get into stock. Oats
in Bond have excited some attention, and the rise from the
lowest point is fully 3s. per quarter, good feeding qualities
being held at lis. to 18s. and Dutch Brews at 20s. to 21s.
per qr.—Beans and Peas have come slowey to hand, and
having met an improved demand the price of each has risen
about Is. per quarter.
FRIDAY EVENING,—There was a scanty show of English
Wheat at our market this morning, with a thin attendance
of buyers ; little business was consequently done, and con-
sequently done, the prices remained mommally altered. The
transactions in foreign free Wheat were likewise on a retail
scale; holders refused, however, to acceed to lower prices.
Bonded was held firm at fully the currency of Monday, but
we heard of no sales. Barley, Beans, and Peas were each
the turn clearer. The enhanced terms asked for on both free
and bonded Oats checked business ; good fresh qualities of
the former were held 6d, per quarter, and heavy parcels of
the latter Is. per quarter above last Monday's quotations.

ASTRONOMICAL MEMORAND A.—Lord Ashley rose in great
splendour on Tuesday evening week—Sir Robert Peel has
been, for some time past, in a most favourable position for
observation—Dr. 13owring and My. Perrand rose together
on the same day, and were visible in conjunction with Mars
for some hours. The former of these bodies had a very fiery
appearance—Mr. Warburton set long ago. This body was
for some years taken for a regular planet, but is now found
to have been a " wandering one, like a comet, and his re.
turn has not been predicted ; indeed be is said to have fallen
into, and been in, the Sun—Mr. Hume lately rose under
total occultation. Several hon. members may now be seen
from the House of Commons late in the evening.

TRIAL AND CONVICTION OF JOHN FRANCIS

The trial of John Francis, for shooting at the Queen, tool(
place, on Friday last, at the Central Criminal Court, before
Chief Justice Tindal. Great curiosity was manifested to be
present at the trial ; but, as no person was admitted to the
court without special permission, all confusion was avoided.
The arrangements for admission were excellent ; and, though
the court was filled early, it was at no time permitted to be
inconveniently crowded. The misguided young man whc
had so far outraged every social feeling as to shoot at a de-

fenceless and innocent lady, as she was enjoying her recreation
in the park, was regarded with scorn and indignation by
every individual present.
A few cases of no importance having been disposed of by
Mr. Commissioner Bullock, who took his seat at an early
hour, Lord Chief Justice Tindal, Mr. Justice Patteson, and
Mr. Baron Gurney entered at ten o'clock, and took their
seats on the bench, where we also observed Alderman Sir
Matthew Wood, M.P., Alderman Thompson, M.P., and
Sheriffs Rogers and Magnay, and several ladies and gentle-

men.
John Francis was then placed at the bar, charged on the
indictment, that he, being a subject of our Lady the Queen,
and not regarding the duty of his allegiance, as a false traitor
against our said Lady the Queen, on the 30th May, 1842, at
Westminster, within the jurisdiction of the said court, ma-
liciously and traitorously did compass, imagine, devise, and
intend to bring and put our said Lady the Queen to death :
in order to fulfil, perfect, and bring to effect his most evil
and wicked treason, and treasonable compassing imagination,
devise, and intention aforesaid, he, on the said 30th May,
at Westminster aforesaid, maliciously and traitorously, did
shoot off and discharge a certain pistol loaded with gunpow-
der and a bullet, which he in his right hand held at and
against the person of our said Lady the Queen, with intent
thereby and therewith maliciously and traitorously to shoot,
assassinate, kill and put to death our said Lady the Queen;
and thereby had traitorously and maliciously made a direct
attempt against the life of our said Lady the Queen.
The second overt act varied only from the first by stating,
that the pistol was loaded with gunpowder and certain other
destructive materials and substances to the persons unknown.
The third overt act charged was the same, only for shoot-
ing off and discharging a certain loaded pistol.
The fourth was the same, only for shooting and discharging
a certain pistol.
There were four other overt acts charged in the indictment,
for discharging, firing off, and shooting a pistol, as in the four
former overt acts, and alleging, that he thereby and there-
with traitorously and maliciously made a direct attempt
against the person of our said Lady the Queen, whereby the
life of the said Lady the Queen was in danger.
The prisoner looked very well, and was respectably dressed
in a black surtout coat, which he wore buttoned : his waist-
coat and small clothes were also black ; and he wore a clean
white shirt.
The Attorney-General, the Solicitor-General, Mr. Wad-
dington, and Mr. Russell Gurney conducted the. prosecution
on the part of the Crown ; and Mr. Clarkson appeared for
the prisoner.
The indictment having been again read, the question, `'Are
you guilty, or not guilty ?" was put to the prisoner, when he
replied, in a low but distinct tone, " Not guilty."
The Jury was then empanelled, and, having been sworn,
The Attorney-General addressed the Jury on the part of
the Crown. After some remarks on the law of high treason,
in which he showed that it was the highest crime in all na-
tions,—that the intention constituted the offence.—he re-
quested the jury to take the law from his lordship, forgetting
all that they might have heard or felt, in order that they
might deal calmly and dispassionately between the public and
the prisoner. " I must," said the learned gentleman, " ask
you to arm yourselves with that fearless manliness necessary
' to discharge the duty cast upon you. If, in your judgment,
the person at the bar be innocent, so find him by your ver-
dict ; but if, in your judgment, he be guilty, shrink not from
the manly performance of your duty, but pronounce a verdict
against him carefully. Gentlemen, avoid any prejudices that
may operate against him, but as carefully, for the public in-
terest, guard against any weakness in his favour. The At-
torney-General proceeded to state the case, observing, that
he did not collect, from anything that had transpired that
there was to be the slightest plea in defence on the ground of
insanity. He gathered from all that had passed before that
moment, and all around him, that it was to be admitted that
the prisoner was, at the time of committing the act, in the
full possession of his reason. After detailing the circum-
stances which were to be proved in; evidence, the learned ad-
vocate proceeded to anticipate the the probable defence.
" My learned friend," said he, " will probably ask where he
got the ball or the destructive materials ;" to that I answer,
that, although there is no evidence to show whether there was
a ball in the pistol or not, there were ingredients to be found
equally as dangerous as lead. There were a thousand hard
substances that might answer the purpose just as well—a mar-
ble, or the gravel on which the prisoner was standing, might
furnish him with the means of destruction. I will frankly
admit, at this stage of the inquiry, that I have no direct evi-
dence where he got any of the destructive materials, or what
it was that he put into the pistol. I understand that it is to
be said, and this is the defence, that if you don't prove that
a bullet was in the pistol, you leave a doubt, and whatever
doubt is left unsatisfied the prisoner is entitled to the benefit
of it, and must therefore be acquitted. 1 deny that to be
either law or common sense, and I am willing to try, the pro-
position, involving as it does in the highest degree the public
safety of the kingdom, in any way my friend may think fit to
submit it to your good sense, or by any ruling in point of law
which the judges may lay down for your direction. The
safety of the meanest individual in the country is not to be
endangered or trifled with, much less a life involving in it so
much the safety, happiness, and interests of the people at
large. It never can be said, that in such cases a life so valu-
able shall be so insecurely guarded that nothing short of the
success of the crime is to make the accusation effective.
Where, I would ask, where is the justice, where is the hu-
manity or the good sense, of calling upon me to show what
were the -contents of the weapon discharged in public, but
loaded in secret? How can I, on the part of the public, be
called upon to do more than prove the act of firing a deadly
weapon ? The crime is the intention to do that mischief
which might take away or endanger the life of the Sovereign.
If the doctrine which is intended to be laid down'sby my
learned friend is to be considered as law, the Queen cannot
have the protection which the act intended to give, for unless
the crime is fully perpetrated, so as to take away the life of
the Sovereign, no accusation could be preferred against the
person committing it, except that of being guilty of assault
and firing a harmless pistol. I understand, again, that my
friend means to assert, that the prisoner bad no evil inten-
tion in firing the pistol, but that it was done by him out of
merriment, or as a salute to her Majesty. If such is to be
the defence, a more wicked or absurd one I cannot imagine.
I believe that twelve gentlemen acting under the impulse of
ordinary feeling and plain common sense, governed and di-
rected by the law of the land, could come but to one conclu-
sion, and that conclusion would be, that the attempt was
made to take away the life of her Majesty. Can my friend
say, or can any person of sense say, that a man has a right
to place himself in the most suspicious circumstances, to
give to his conduct the air of having committed the most
atrocious crime, and then to say all this was without an in-
tention of doing harm,• it •was merely a frolic ? If such a
doctrine was to be allowed, no man's life would be safe. The
public institutions of the country would not be safe, and the
Queen would be exposed hourly to all the perils of treason.
I call upon you, gentlemen, in the name of common sense,
in the name of the whole country, to deal with such a defence
as it deserves."
Colonel Arbuthnot and Colonel Wild, equerries to her
Majesty and Prince Albert on the day in question, Henry
Allen, a private in the Scotch Fusilier Guards, 'William
Trounce, a police-officer, Lavinia Blanehard, Wm. Richards,
a shoemaker, J. Russell, inspector of police, all of whom
were present when the incident occurred, were, with other
witnesses, called and examined. They proved, that the
prisoner, who was in very indigent circumstances, purchased,
on the Friday before the event, the 27th of May. a pistol at
a pawnbroker's shop in _Tothill-street, Westminster, for
which he paid three shillings in very small coin, chiefly in
halfpence. On the same evening he purchased a flint at the
shop of an oilman in Upper Charles-street, and a halfpenny
worth of gunpowder at a shop in York-street, 'Westminster.
On the 39th of May, the day when he fired at her Majesty,
lie again purchased an ounce of powder, at the shop of a Mr.
Briggs, in Brewster.street, Golden-square. On the evening
of the 30th of May, from some time before six to half-past
that hour, the prisoner was seen, by persons who were wait-
ing to see her Majesty, stationed at the spot where the shot
was fired. He was, for a short time, in conversation with
another young man. He was then observed resting against
the lamp. Her Majesty's carriage came up, driving at a
rapid pace, when the prisoner raised his hand, levelled the
pistol, and fired. He was instantly seized by the policeman
and soldier 'above mentioned. The pistol was taken from
him and found to be warm. Colonels Arbuthnot and Wild
and the soldier testified their belief, from the report, that the
pistol was loaded with ball or some other hard substance.
It was also proved, that the prisoner had, -on the Sunday
previously, pointed a pistol at her Majesty. On being ob-
served, he said, " I don't care ; they may take me ; I was a
fool not to shoot !"
Mr. Clarkson, on behalf of the prisoner, contended, that
no proof had been offered that there was a bullet in the pis-
tol. Might it not be inferred that the prisoner, a young
man in great distress, without a penny to pay his lodgings,
might be induced, by a desire for notoriety, he might almost
say importance, and in hopes of mending his condition, to
act as he had been proved to do? Look at what he did on
Sunday : he pointed the pistol at her Majesty, and said, " I
don't care ; they may take me, if they like. I was a fool
not to shoot ! " Would the jury think that there was any
bullet in the pistol then ? Would they believe that, if there
had been a bullet in it, he would have called attention to
• himself, and invited his own apprehension, knowing that the
ball would be enough to constitute his guilt? Or would they
not rather believe that,. unloaded, he presented the pistol
with the desire of being apprehended, that his late sad and
wretched life might be changed for a more comfortable one ?
In that case, the prisoner had acted wantonly and foolishly,
and richly deserved to be punished, and, no doubt, he would
be punished as he deserved. He, too, would then entreat
the jury to exercise their manliness and protect the prisoner ;
and he would beg of their lordships to stand between the
prisoner and the Attorney-General's speech. A fezt de joie !
A symbol of loyalty ! Ilad they not heard rung in their
ears, from one end of the country to the other, the baseness
of this crime? Had they not been told, that Oxford should
have been executed, and then this would not have occurred ?
Had they not been told, that they (the jury) must be armed
with manliness to convict the prisoner? In conclusion, he
begged of them to throw from them all inducen3ents‘to con-
vict, and the prejudices which had been cast over this case ;
and might the Almighty arm them with manliness enough
to stand between the crown and the prisoner, between the
man and the justice of the country. The verdict would be
theirs, and it would be handed down to posterity as theirs ;
the speech of his learned friend, with his inducements to
convict, would also be handed down. He sat down in a firm
reliance upon the clemency and mercy of the jury, and he
had no doubt the justice of the country would he vindicated
by their verdict.
The Solicitor-General having replied,
Chief Justice Tindal proceeded to sum up the case,
and said, that in all cases of high treason the law required
the proof of the commission of certain overt acts. In this
case, the overt act constituted the treason itself; it was the
shooting off and discharging a certain pistol, loaded with
gunpowder and a bullet, or some other destructive substance,
at her Majesty, and another count charged with discharging
a certain loaded pistol at her Majesty. If it should appear
satisfactory to the Jury, that the pistol was loaded with a
bullet, there could be very little doubt as to the guilty intent
of the prisoner; therefore, the first question to be considered
was, whether the pistol was loaded with a bullet or any other
destructive substance. There was a second question to be
considered, which was, whether, although the pistol was only
laded with gunpowder and wadding, it was fired so close to
her Majesty as to be calculated to do her severe bodily harm :
then also an overt act would be made out. If the Jury were
satisfied of neither of these positions, then their verdict must
be in favour of the prisoner. (The learned Judge then read
his notes of the evidence at length.) With regard to the
identity of the prisoner there could be no doubt. It was
clear that he was the person spoken to by all the witnesses;
that he was seized with the pistol in his possession, which
pistol he had recently discharged. The evidence of the
Pearsons was most extraordinary. It was for the Jury to
place their own construction upon the conduct of the pri-
soner on the Sunday in presenting the pistol at the Royal
carriage, and upon the expressions he made use of on that ,
Occasion. The question, would resolve itself
almost entirely into the question of the intention of the pri-
toner at the bar on the Monday, according to the view they
took of his. conduct on that day, They would consider,
either that his conduct on the Sunday betokened that of a
Man determined to persevere in the perpetration of a horri-
ble crime, for that it was indicative of a man in a state of
desperation, who was desirous of being taken into custody.
If they were satisfied, that the pistol was loaded with ball,

or some other destructive substance, there would be no great
difficulty in the case. It they should he of opinion. that the
(istol was loaded with powder and wadding only, then they
'ild have to consider whether it was discharged so close to
if the wadding had struck her, it would
have dune her some bodily harm, or if it was discharged with
the intention of doing her some bodily harm. If they should
be of opinion, that such was the case, they must find the
prisoner guilty. It was a question not of law, but of fact.
and was for the Jury alone to determine. If they should feel
convinced that he had committed.the offence with which he
stood charged, it would be their duty to bring in a verdict of
guilty, without regard to consequences; but, it they should
be of opinion, that the scales of justice hung even, then they
would give the prisoner the benefit of the doubt.
The Clerk of the Arraigns.—Gentlemen of the jury, please
to consider your verdict.

ajest y

The jury having considered for a few minutes,
The Foreman said,—My Lord, I think that we had better
retire.

Lord Chief Justice Tindal.—Certainly, gentlemen.
The jury then retired at twenty minutes to four o'clock to
consider the verdict. They returned into court at five
minutes after five, and brought in a verdict of guilty on the
second and third counts, adding, " We think there is some
doubts on the first."

Lord Chief Justice Tindal.—Do you find him guilty of the
first overt act, that the pistol was loaded with a bullet ?
Foreman.—We do not.

Lord Chief Justice Tindal.—Do you find him guilty on the
second overt act, that the pistol was charged with some de-
structive substance? Foreman.We do.

Lord Chief Justice Tindal.-At is your opinion, therefore,
that the pistol was loaded with something else besides wad-
ding and powder? Foreman.—lt is.
Lord Chief Justice Tindal.—l wished distinctly to ascer-
tain your opinion on that point.
The prisoner, who turned pale when the verdict was deli-
vered, was now called on.
The Clerk of the Arraigns.—John Francis, you stand con-
victed of high treason. What have you to say why the court
should not give you judgment to die according to law?
The prisoner, who seemed dreadfully affected, returned no
answer.

Silence was then proclaimed, and the three judges (Chief
Justice Tindal, Mr. Justice Patteson, and Mr. Baron Gur-
ney) having put on their black caps.
Chief Justice Tindal proceeded to pass sentence of deeth
upon the prisoner in the following terms :—John Francis, a
Jury of your -country have, after a patient investigation,
found you guilty of a crime of the deepest and most despe-
rate nature known to this country.—l mean the crime of
high treason ; and for that crime 1 have now to pass upon
you the judgement of the Court. It is useless. in your case
to enlarge upon the nature of your offence, for the heart
that could imagine so dreadful a crime must be callous to
every consideration of virtue and humanity. Any attempt
therefore, to aggravate the nature of your offence must be
necessarily useless. It is only owing to the manifest inter-
position of that Almighty God, who hath said, that he will
be a shield and a protection to those princes who put their
trust in him that the nation is not at this moment suffering
the greatest affliction in consequence of your crime. Let me
beseech you to apply yourself, for the short time you have
yet to remain in this world, to endeavour by your contrition
and penitence for the dreadful crime which you have commited
to obtain the pardon of that Almighty God, who, by his
interposition, p'revented you from completing the horrid
crime which you had imagined. Pray to that Almighty God
that, as he has been pleased to interpose to prevent the
further aggravation of your offence, by the completion of
the crime which you had imagined, so also lie will be pleased
to show mercy to your soul. It now only remains for me to
pass upon you the sentence of the law, which is, that you,
John Francis, be taken from hence to the place from whence
you came; that you be drawn from hence, on a hurdle, to
the place of execution ; and that you be hanged by the neck
until you be dead; that your head be afterwards severed
from your body, and that your body be divided into four
quarters, to be disposed of in such manner as to her Majesty
shall seem fit, and the Lord have mercy ou your soul ! !
Mr. Hacker, the Usher, replied-Amen!
The prisoner, whose demeanour throughout the entire day
had been remarkably firm, though demonstrative of a gentle
firmness than a bold or audacious daring, appeared to be
totally overcome towards the conclusion. He seemed to be
sinking rapidly from the moment of the finding of the verdict;
his breathing became quick and oppressed ; and, on the
termination of the learned Judge's address and the sound of
the solemn " Amen ! " which rung like a death-knell through
the court, he sunk back, with a convulsive sob, into the
arms of the gaoler, and was removed from the bar.

THE BREAKING DOWN WAREHOUSES OF A

" FREE TRADE " IN CORN,

The circumstance of one of the six warehouses of Mr.
Joseph Sturge—the great Anti-corn-law League advocate—
breaking down under the thousands of quarters of grain
which he contrived to stow in at Gloucester, has occasioned
no small discussion and indignation.
" Ou Thursday night last considerable alarm was created
by the sinking of the internal foundations of Messrs. Sturge's
large corn warehouse, at the docks, and serious apprehensions
were entertained that the whole was about to fall into ruin.
Fortunately, after sinking three or four feet, the further
downward tendency arrested itself ; the outward walla also
stood firm • but it will be a very expensive operation to
repair the damage which has been done. The cause of the
accident is supposed to be the immense weight of the valu-
able contents, which consisted of no less than 20,000 quarters
of foreign wheat, weighing about 4,000 tons."—Gloucester
Journal (liberal paper.)
The general feeling appears to be this :—What are we to
think of the Manchester League's professions of hatred of
monopoly—of respect for free trade—of love for cheap bread
—when we see one of the leading members of their body
so stacking and storing his warehouses, and so hoarding and
keeping back his purchases of foreign corn in anticipation of
effecting a rise; that they actually break down under the
pressure ?

How applicable the language—how almost prophetic the
words of the worthy member for Kidderminster (Mr. God-
son), when in the year 1839, on the occasion of a public
dinner being given to him by his constituents, he thus ex-
pressed his opinions :
" Suppose they repealed the corn-laws, what would be the
effect? Instead of the assumed monopoly of the landlords,
they would have an actual and fearful monopoly of the spe-
culators. (Hear, hear.) Would they throw out of- CUltilt..
tion all the land in the country merely to give the monied
men of Manchester an opportunity of dealing in corn instead
of cotton. They read continually in the newspapers that
40,000 or 100,000 bales of cotton had been taken on specula-
tion. Substitute the word corn for cotton, and instead of
seeing the corn stacks ornamenting their country, they would
hear of the thousands upon thousands of quarters of corn in
the warehouses of the speculators. Would they sell it cheap?"
—Ten Towns' Messenger.