SATURDAY.
The question of the Corn-laws was badly entered by the mover, and therefore could not be expected to meet with extravagant success hi the present instance. The thirty-one thousand men who petitioned in the Metropolis, did not ask for any thing so emusing to the enemy, as that the duty should in the first place be raised from 6s. Sd. to Ins.; but they asked for a gradual removal of the existing duties. They were quite clear of any thing like the debility of asking for a previous change to a fixed duty ; the obvious tendency of which is only to increase the chance of preserving some portion of duty in the end. And not a word was said of the broad hint of the possibility of' retribution, included in their petition. It is an unfortunate thing for petitioners, when their advocate is a peg too low for the circumstances of the case. Suppose Mr. WILBERFORCE had begun his attack upon the Slave-trade, by moving that the annual exportation from Guinea should first be increased in the proportion of 10s. to 6s. Sd. and gradually reduced to half; in other words, to license 75 per cent. out of the whole!
The Ayes, however, were a third; which was the amount calculated on, and is very well, considering that the question lay under the disadvantage of being brought before a jury where every individual had sworn to a substantial interest on the side of the opponent. It may be questioned whether any other country in Europe could produce a tribunal where the votes of a third would be given under like circumstances. A third is two sixths, and three sixths are a half; there is some virtue in arithmetic.
The first scene of the first act is well over; and the people will never be got to osk for any thing so moderate again. The next will be in the House of Lords ; where the affair will probably be conducted with due reference to the errors of the last. In the mean time, the public will increase their efforts; well knowing that it IS neither a question of to-morrow no the day after, but the orderly movement of a community fond of peace and disliking unnecessary revolutions, upon its ,oppressors.
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