366 
[May 27, 
pressure of general taxation, and the local charges to 
which the land is exclusively liable, the home produce has 
a constitutional right to expect and demand from the 
Legisla‘ure ample protection against the otherwise ruinous 
competition of untaxed foreign capital and foreign labour.” 
Mr. Job Lousley, a farmer, seconded the motion in a long 
and animated address, during which he was loudly cheered. 
At the close of his speech, the numbers had so increased that 
it was necessary to adjourn to the Forbury, where hustings 
had been erected in anticipation of the event. The Earl 
of Radnor then spoke at great length in opposition to the 
previous motion, and concluded by moving asan amendment 
the following resolutions :—‘‘ 1. That the petitioners have 
been till lately impressed with the belief that laws regu- 
lating and restraining the importation of corn from abroad, 
are necessary for the protection of the British farmer ; 
but that experience and more mature reflection have con- 
vinced them that such laws really afford him no protec- 
tion, but that the best encouragement that can be given 
to those concerned in agriculture is that whichis derived 
from the flourishing state of the industrious classes of the 
community. 2. That your petitioners believe that. the 
time is fast approaching when all legislatiye protection 
will be abandoned. They have observed that all the 
measures lately adopted by the Legislature are in that 
direction, and that the principles advocated by the most 
eminent men of all parties lead to that result. 3. That 
your petitioners being for the most part connected with, 
and dependent for their support on agriculture, are now 
reduced to the most harassing and ruinous uncertainty 
with respect to their trade and future prospects. They 
conceive that any measures which do not bear the cha- 
racter of a final arrangement can only increase that uncer- 
tainty, and prolong its duration ; and that it is for the 
interest of all parties that the question should be settled 
as speedily and as completely as possible. 4. That your 
petitioners, therefore, pray you to take steps for the total 
and immediate repeal of the Corn-laws.’’ Mr, Mi 
Norris, of Sutton Courtney, seconded the amendment. 
r, Walter, of Bearwood, then proposed, as 
second amendment, the following resolutions :— 
“That this meeting is deeply sensible of the very depressed 
condition to which British agriculture is now reduced. 
But while it sincerely deplores so painful a state of things, 
it cannot but observe that every measure which has been 
introduced for many years past, for regulating the importa- 
tion of foreign corn, has totally failed, as is proved by the 
frequent changes of the law on this subject. That this 
meeting, therefore, is of opinion that some fixed and stable 
plan is necessary, by which the fluctuations in the value 
of corn might be considerably lessened, the landlord and 
tenant might know what they had to expect, and foreign 
corn be subjected to a permanent duty of such an 
amount as might be most productive to the revenue, 
and so tend most effectually to diminish internal taxa- 
tion.’’ The Rev, Mr. Sloper seconded the motion. Mr. All- 
nutt, Mr. Blackstone, Mr. Palmer, Mr. Pusey, and Lord 
Barrington, followed in defence of the agricultural interest, 
andin support of Mr. Hippesley’s motion. Several other 
gentlemen addressed the meeting, and the show of hands 
was then taken. The original proposition was carried by 
a considerable majority, only four or five hands being held 
up in favour of Mr. Walter’s amendment. Petitions 
framed upon the resolutions were then adopted, that to 
the Lords to be presented by Earl Stanhope, that to the 
Commons by one of the county members. 
Uxbridge. —On Thursday, the 19th, a meeting was 
held in this town, for the purpose of discussing the subject 
of the Corn-laws. Handbills were very generally circu- 
lated, announcing that Mr. Cobden, M.P., Mr. H. 
Pownall, and other gentlemen, would be present to argue 
the question. Mr. F. Sherborne, of Bedfont, presided. 
The meeting was addressed by Mr. Cobden, Col. Wood, 
Mr. Hume, Mr. Byng, Mr. Pownall, and other gentle- 
men, A resolution was proposed by Mr. Wilkinson, and 
seconded by Mr. Hall, in favour of repeal of the Corn- 
laws, which was carried by a large majority, there being 
only about 40 hands held up against it. “A petition to 
Parliament, in accordance with the resolution, was then 
submitted to the chairman to sign on behalf of the meet- 
ing; but he declined doing so, stating that he had not 
taken the chair with any such understanding, and that, 
moreover, he did not concur in the prayer of the petition, 
After some commotion, a vote of thanks to Mr. Sher- 
borne was moved by Colonel Wood, and agreed to; and 
Mr. Hall was then called upon to succeed him, which he 
did, and signed the petition. 
Raiiways.—The following are the receipts of Railways 
for the past week :—Birmingham and Derby, 10871; 
Birmingham and Gloucester, 1,627/. Edinburgh and 
Glasgow, 2,3147.; Eastern Counties, 2,3271..3.. Great, 
n, 13,8792, ; Hulland Selt y, 1,0792.; Birmingham, 
8602.5 Blackwall, 7831. ; Brighton, 3,034. ; Croydon, 
186 3 
286/.; South Western, 6,4912,; Midland Counties, 2,4732.; 
South Eastern, 2,030/.—The half-yearly general meeting 
of the South Eastern and Dover Company took place at 
the London Tavern last week, The report stated that the 
traffic on the line since the last opening from Headcorn 
to Ashford exhibited a gradual and steady increase. The 
railway would further be opened to Folkestone shorily 
after midsummer, and to the ultimate terminus at Dover 
within the present year. A scheme for making acommu- 
nication between Paris and the South Eastern Railway, as 
prepared by Mr, Stephenson, had been approved of by the 
French Government, and would come before the Chamber 
and Croydon Company, to extend the Railway by a 
branch line to the Bricklayers’ Arms, had proved suc- 
cessful, notwithstanding the opposition of the Greenwich 
Company. Arrangements had been made with the prin- 
cipal carriers in Kent and Sussex for daily conveyance 
over the line, and a single line of branch railway 
to Maidstone, 104 miles long, at a cost of 112,000/., had 
been engaged to be constructed and opened by the con- 
tractors within 9 months after obtaining possession of the 
land. Branch lines to Canterbury and Hastings were 
likewise in contemplation. No accident had occurred 
upon the line to any individual. The balance, on the 
construction account, was 245,000/., and that on the 
traffic account, 6,4512. Mr. Cubitt’s report gave a detail 
of the progress of the works, and stated, amongst several 
other facts, that by the recent explosion at Roundown 
Cliff, Jand to the extent of 15 acres had been covered with 
soil at an average of 20 feet deep. The report of the 
directors was ultimately adopted by a large majority.x—On 
Friday a special general meeting of the London and Croy- 
don Company was held, at which the bill now before the 
House of Lords for making a branch railway from 
Corbett’s-lane, where the Croydon and Greenwich railways 
join, to a point in Swan-street, near the Bricklayers’ Arms, 
in the Old Kent Road, was unanimously approved of,— 
A special general meeting of the Taff Vale Com- 
pany was held on Wednesday week at Bristol, to take into 
consideration the financial condition and late management 
of the company’s affairs. The report of the committee of 
inquiry stated, that, from the investigations which had 
been made, the directors appeared to have been more 
mindful of their own interests than of those of the share- 
holders, and that the latter had been sacrificed to the 
former, They had further ascertained that some of the 
directors had contracted for the supply of articles to the 
company—had been allowed to carry their goods over the 
line at less than the ordinary rates—and had sold bad 
coke to the company at an increased rate. By this mis- 
management the shareholders had become involved in a 
liability of 93,885/.,in addition to the capital required for 
the completion of the railway—a total liability of 754,000/. 
The meeting was finally adjourned. 
IRELAND. 
Dublin.—Notwithstanding the absence of Mr. O’Con- 
nell, the Corn Exchange, at the usual weekly meeting on 
Monday, was densely crowded, and there was fully as 
much excitement as at any previous meeting. The amount 
of rent was the largest weekly return yet announced, hay- 
ing been 709/. 18s. 6d. This included several English 
returns. The meeting did not terminate until nearly six 
o’clock, but the large room was crowded till the close, / 
new election for the office of treasurer to the corporation 
has taken place, and Mr. Costigin has been elected by a 
majority of five. The numbers were— For Mr, Guiness, 20 ; 
for Mr, Costigin, 25. 
Cork.—The Cork Examiner contains a report, extend- 
ing to 15 columns, of the proceedings in that city on the 
recent visit of Mr. O’Connell. It sets down the numbers 
congregated at the incredible figure of 500,000 ; but, even 
subtracting one-half from the calculation, there is no 
reason to believe that the demonstration was in any way 
inferior in point of physical force to the great gathering 
at Charleville a few days previous, There was but little 
novelty in the speeches at the Sunday meeting and ban- 
quet to call for even an abstract of the proceedings. It 
will, therefore, be sufficient. to say, that Mr. O’Connell, 
Mr. Roche, M.P., Mr. Steele, and Mr. Callaghan, one of 
the city members, were the principal speakers. On the 
Monday another meeting took place in the Butter-weigh- 
house, at which, of course, Mr. O’Connell referred to the 
recent denunciations of repeal by Lords Beaumont and 
Kenmare, and attacked the Duke of Wellington and Lord 
Brougham in terms of unusual violence.—The Virginia 
packet-ship, from Liverpool to Boston, was totally lost off 
Kinsale, on Tuesday the 16th inst., but the crew and pas- 
sengers were saved by a schooner which bore down to 
their assistance. 
Charleville.—Another great repeal meeting has taken 
place in this town. If the concurrent accounts of the 
Freeman’s Journal, Limerick Reporter, and Nation are 
to be relied on, the gathering was by far the most formid- 
able, in point of numbers, of all the assemblages which 
had yet congregated together at the bidding of Mr. 
O'Connell. The two former papers state that 200,000 
persons were present on the occasion; while the latter 
declares that 350,000 was under the mark. Some idea may 
be formed of the demonstration when it is stated, that, from 
Bruff, which is a distance of ten miles, to Charleville, Mr. 
O’Connell’s carriage obliged to proceed at a walking 
pace, so great was the cavalcade which accompanied it, A 
large platform was erected in the centre of the street op- 
posite the market-house, in which were stationed a party 
of the 45th Light Infantry and a stipendiary magistrate. 
After considerable difficulty, the c lage arrived opposite 
the platform, but it was so crowded, and the streets so 
blocked up, that Mr, O’Connell found it was impossible to 
make his way, and accordingly determined to address the 
multitude from the dickey. He told them to insult no 
one, but be lively and merry at the prospects which were 
opening upon their country. He wanted liberty for old 
Ireland. He was travelling through the land, and would 
> 
have the entire island with him before many months were 
over. Who would tell him, after that, a British statesman 
would refuse their just demands, and who would tell him 
he would not get a repeal of the legislative union? France 
knew that England was weak as long as Ireland was justly 
discontented—America knew it—Russia learned, and all 
j ‘Europe was aware of it; and Heaven forbid she should be 
secure while Ireland was in chains. 
Athlone.—Mr. O’Connell has been invited to a public 
meeting and dinner in this town. ‘The invitation appears 
in the shape of a declaration, signed by Lord Ffrench, 
Dr, Higgins, Roman Catholic Bishop of Ardagh, Dr. 
Cantwell, Roman Catholic Bishop of Meath, Sir M. 
D. Bellew, Bart., and many others residing in the adja- 
cent counties. In the declaration they say, ‘‘ We are 
fully impressed with the conviction that nothing short of 
a repeal of the Union can be of any beneficial service to 
Ireland. This conviction is more firmly established by 
the threats said to be made use of by Wellington and Peel, 
and particularly by the declaration of the latter, who seems 
to entertain so thorough a contempt for the Irish people, 
that he says he will not consent to listen to the unanimous 
voice of her entire representatives. His threats of 
coercion we despise, and, as a proof of the little weight 
they have with us, beg to invite you, the father of repeal, 
to come amongst us, that we may show you, by the recep- 
tion we shall give you, the measureless contempt we en- 
tertain both for him and his abettors.” 
SCOTLAND. 
Edinburgh. — The long-repeated threat of secession 
from the Church of Scotland has at length been carried 
into effect by the Non-intrusion party coming voluntarily 
forward and declaring themselves no longer a portion of 
the church. This event took place on Thursday, the 18th, 
immediately after the meeting of the Assembly, and before 
even the roll of members was called over. Dr. Welsh, 
the late Moderator, on taking the chair, read a document 
containing a catalogue of alleged grievances—cases of 
interference on the part of the civil courts with matters 
spiritual. To this document 193 names were adhibited, 
comprising 120 ministers and 73 elders, who, immediately 
on the document being read, followed Dr. Welsh, and 
proceeded through the streets of Edinburgh in a body toa 
place of meeting prepared for their reception. It appears 
that on Thursday morning, after the levee in Holyrood 
Palace held by the Marquess of Bute, as her Majesty’s 
Lord High Commissioner, his Grace proceeded to St+ 
Andrew’s church to open the General Assembly. After 
the usual sermon by the Moderator, Dr. Welsh, the Mar- 
quess of Bute ascended the throne, on which Dr. Welsh» 
having constituted the Assembly by a prayer, proceeded 
to read the protest of the non-intrusionist majority, which 
declared that ‘‘the Legislature has now, by its late pro- 
ceedings, unequivocally, and for the first time, fixed the 
conditions of the church establishment in Scotland to bé 
such as the civil courts have lately pronounced them— 
subversive, that is to say, of Church independence, a8 
held by the seceders, and as believed by them to have been 
hitherto the law of the land, and more especially incom- 
patible with the freedom of the Assembly itself; that any 
future Assembly to be held under these novel conditions 
is therefore no free or lawful Assembly ; and, finally, that 
while firmly asserting the right and duty of the civil 
magistrate to maintain and support an establishment of 
religion in accordance with God’s word, and reserving tO 
themselves and their successors to strive by all lawful 
means, as opportunity shall in God’s good provl- 
dence be offered, to secure the performance of this 
duty, but acknowledging that they do not hold them- 
selves at liberty to retain the benefit of the Establish: 
ment while they cannot comply with the conditions 
now to be deemed thereto attached, they protest thelt 
right to separate in an orderly way from an establishment 
which they loved and_ prized, and to organise themselves 
as shall seem expedient. Onreading the protest, whic 
was listened to with the utmost attention, the Moderator 
delivered it into the hands of Dr. Lee, the principal clerk, 
and immediately left the chair, and walked out of the 
House. He was followed by Dr. Chalmers, Dr. Gordomy 
Dr. M’Farlan, and the whole of the Non-intrusion pate 
all the benches usvally occupied by them being empl . 
The secession was hailed with loud acclamations in A 
gallery, but these soon subsided, and the party left oe 
church with the utmost silence from those that rem 
When they got outside the church, they were received ter 
cheers and some hisses by the mass of people assemb! eae 
Having formed into order, they proceeded three abies 
to Tanfield, Stockbridge ; but along the line of proceselyy 
wihch was densely crowded, there were no expressions 
applause or dissent. in their arrival at Tanfield — 
meeting was constituted by the name of the ‘ ‘assem 
of the Free Presbyterian Church of Scotland. 1 the 
to pronounce his panegyric’’—Dr. Chalmers,. 
to relinquish to him the chair of Moderator. d others 
mers exhorted the Assembly. Dr. Cenihehs an - ‘or 
proposed measures for organising the new Terie were 
strengthening their own hands. Six Com eae 
appointed to. provide interim supplies of ordina’ olity $ 
means of education for their ministers—a ohne Fetter 
to prepare an address to the adhering people, am e an 
to be addressed to corresponding churehes at home ie 
abroad, The meeting was then adjourned Or the of Ireland 
when a deputation from the Presbyterian Church o e of the 
came forward to the bar, with an address sabe eenetr RE 
sympathy and concurrence of that Chureh with ¢ a ace 
ings of those who now constituted the Free Bae te nntar 
Church of Scotland. Several of the members of ae epuree 
tion addressed the Assembly, warbaly eas fail Dr. Chal- 
they had taken in ee ane Presby- 
rs, i e name 0} ie AAS! shes 
heriaw totes of Ireland for their friendly sympathy and 
