Zbe _Metropolis.
Mr. Daniel Whittle Harvey is spoken of as likely to be put forward as candidate for the office of City Comptroller ; some influential persons in the City wishing to see him again in Parliament, as the representative of the Corporation. Another version of the story is, that Mr. Tyrrell, the present Remembrancer, will be Comptroller, and that Mr. Harveywill be appointed in his place, with a view to a seat in Parliament.
Commodore Napier's election for Marylebone appears to have gained in favour since the new movement for a repeal of the Corn-laws : some Marylebone enthusiast, writing to the Morning Chronicle, says that "there is not the shadow of a doubt of his return."
The Ministerial announcement on Friday has drawn forth the following address from the Metropolitan Anti-Corn-law Association
" Fellow-Countrymen—Our course of peaceful agitation has now arrived at its crisis. We have sown the seed ; the field is white unto harvest : shall it be reaped and garnered, or left to rot upon the ground ? The Cabinet has transferred the responsibility for the existence of the Breadtax from itself to you. The struggle now lies betwixt thirty thousand landowners and the People of England. Be up, then, and doing ; convene public meetings in every city, town, village, and hamlet throughout broad Britain. Let every district have its wardmote. Where parish-officers do not of their own accord assemble the inhabitants, let them be called upon to do so by requisition. The citizens of London have on all suitable occasions protested against the Corn-laws. Common consistency dictates that the Livery should now act both collectively and in their several wards. Let all branch Anti-Corn-law Associations redouble their efforts. Carry petitions from house to house for signature, and send them to Parliament for presentation by thousands. Let every man act as if the issue depended on himself. Scorn intimidation. Let ordinary business look after itself for the time. This is business. Make but one mighty effort, and victory is certain. "By order of the Committee, "FRANCIS PLACE, Chairman. 'SIDNEY SMITH, Secretary. "Every information and assistance will be afforded on application at the office, 448, Strand. Funds are of the utmost importance. Subscriptions, as liberal as possible, are earnestly entreated, and are absolutely necessary. They may be sent to the office; or left at Messrs. Prescott, Grote, and Co.'s, Threadneedle Street."
Colonel Thompson delivered a lecture on the Corn-laws to a crowded meeting at Deptford on Monday. A petition to Parliament for total repeal received a great number of signatures.
A requisition for a public meeting to petition against the Corn-law has been presented to the Churchwardens of St. James's, Clerkenwell.
The High Bailiff of Southwark has received a requisition to call a public meeting in support of the entire Ministerial project. A requisition to the Churchwardens is getting up in St. Bride's parish, for a public meeting to petition against the Corn-laws.
A numerous meeting of influential gentlemen connected with the shipping and North American interests was held on Tuesday ; at which it was unanimously resolved to make the most strenuous opposition to the measures proposed by the Chancellor of the Exchequer and his colleagues for breaking down the system of protection afforded to British enterprise. The cooperation of shipowners resident in the country on an effective scale, is intended, we understand, to be given to the London interest.—Morning Post.
On Wednesday, a very numerous meeting of planters, merchants, and others interested in the British West India Colonies, took place at the Thatched-house Tavern, to take into consideration the proposed reduction of duty on foreign sugars. Amongst those present were—the Earl of Harewood, Sir Alexander Grant, M.P., Sir H. W. Martin Sir W. W. Dolling, Sir John Rae Reid, M.P., Mr. Irving, M.P., Mr. Stewart, M.P., Mr. Gladstone, Captain Mathew, Mr. Mulkey, Mr. Dehany, Mr. Davidson, Mr. Hibbert, Mr. Marryat, Mr. Mayers, Mr. D. Baillie, and Mr. Burge. Lord Harewood was appointed to take the chair ; and he delivered a long speech describing the utter ruin which the totally unexpected Ministerial measure would bring upon the West Indies. But he counted on a union of several powerful bodies against the measure—amongst theni. the Anti-Slavery Association. Mr. Sainsbury, the Secretary to the'fineting, read a letter from the Committee of the General Shipowner's Society; who say that "They have placed themselves in communication with the Committee of the British North American Colonial Association; whose views concurring entirely with those of the Committee, it has been determined to tender to the representatives of the agricultural as well as the East and West India and other Colonial interests, the best aid in the power of the General Shipowners Society and the British North American Colonial Association to afford in opposing the proposed alteration of the duties on the importation of corn, timber, and sugar, and with a view to the organization, without delay, of an effective opposition to the measures in question."
And they ask the meeting to appoint a deputation to unite with deputations from the other two societies. The meeting adopted a petition to Parliament against the Government scheme ; and, thanking the Shipowners Society for their letter, expressed their willingness to confer with the deputation.
The Anti-Slavery Reporter announces the movement which Lord Harewood anticipated " Notice has at length been given in the House of Commons of an intention on the part of her Majesty's Government to propose the reduction of the duty on foreign sugar from 63s. to 36s. per hundredweight, with the view of opening the British market to this commodity. The fearful impulse which will be thus given to slavery and the slave-trade in Cuba and Brazil, must, if possible, be prevented; and the occasion calls loudly for the prompt and ,ei nergetic action of all the friends of humanity. The subject s under the serious consideration of the Anti-Slavery Committee; who will communicate their sentiments to their friends by a circular, in a day or two. In the mean time, we entreat every Abolitionist to be awake to the extreme importance of the subject, and all to be prepared for immediate exertion."
A very numerous meeting of the Colonial Society assembled at their Rooms on Thursday, to consider the financial measures proposed by the Chancellor of the Exchequer. Among the members present were, the Earl of Harewood, the Earl of Monntcashel, Mr. Maclean, M.P., Captain Mathew, M.P., Mr. Chapman, M.P., Sir Duncan M`Dougal, Captain Barber, Mr. Guest, Mr. Cunard, and Mr. Chisholm. Speakers on behalf of Canada, the West Indies, and the East Indies, protested against the reduction of duties contemplated by Mr. Baring. It was asked, what would become of the English manufactures now consumed in the colony, if they were ruined? Petitions to both Houses of Parliament in opposition to the proposed measures were adopted, and intrusted to the Earl of Mountcashel and Captain Mathew, members of the Society, for presentation to the Houses of Parliament.
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