5 NOVEMBER 1842, Page 1

NEWS OF THE WEEK.

Tun rumours of last week prove as baseless as we thought them, and Parliament is not to meet before the usual time. The Privy Council, which was expected to decide for an early session, met purely to transact the usual routine business of the further proroga- tion. The rumours, no doubt, originated in the vague feeling that it were very'desirable to do something to better the state of the coun- try, if it could be done; just as the rumours have originated that Sir ROBERT PEEL has some further measure cut-and-dry—a five. shilling fixed corn-duty, for instance. There were the same vague half-formed expectations last year, but under different circum- stances. Then the gloom of November was deepened by the low- ering horizon of winter behind : but the complaint then was, "Corn does not come in "; and an anxious look was turned to the Pre- mier, who was understood to have great measures in petty. Peace- loving people were alarmed at the prospect of an inclement winter, with dearth of bread and still greater lack of means to purchase it. Sir ROBERT PEEL promised remedies, but kept a mysterious si- lence, asking time for deliberation ; and while some imputed his silence to the conscious worthlessness of his measures, others, on the well-known principle, unduly magnified their importance and immediate effects. Now corn has come in, and the statesman has promulgated his measures; yet we are not in a much more promising position than we were last November. There is more bread, but there is even less means to purchase it; and the great measures have come into actual operation, yet there is small pre- sent relief, small alleviation for solicitude. There are reasons, indeed, why the anxiety is not quite so intense : with a positively greater quantity of bread-stuff, there is a certainty that the ex- tremity of " famine " is impossible ; although probably the sufferings of large masses of the people were not exaggerated, and although their state cannot be strictly called exceptional, yet evidence in con- nexion with the late disturbances has proved that great numbers receive wages of any thing but the lowest grade ; and whereas, last year, there were shadowy fears of some outbreak in the hard famishing winter, now the outbreak belongs to the past—the revo- lutionary classes have tried their strength and found it wanting, and the peaceable are reassured. There is therefore less selfish fear of specific disorders and injuries. Perhaps on that very ac- count there is a solicitude of a wider scope and less transient nature : another year has been added to the period of depression ; stages of hope have been attained, and the hope has been disap- pointed; with vigorous financial measures, a fine harvest, and a more peaceful aspect abroad, trade is unimproved, and the near future is a dreary blank. The great fiscal measures may prove beneficial; they may ultimately increase the wealth of the country : but the manceuvre to enable it to right itself in the mean time has yet to be tried. It is front this feeling that some people guessed there might be an early session ; and they look to Sir ROBERT PEEL, when they want more remedial measures, because among statesmen he is the one that has hitherto given them the most.