Star. — London, England, 1820-05-24 00:00:00

ORIGINAL POETRY. 'Tomas morn—and the rose buds their beauties disclosing, In blushes reveal'd all the glow of a bride ; And the Bees, in their Harem of sweetness reposing, Like it. lovers unseen, all their eestacy hide ! No breeze wak'd the woodbine, yet still 'twere in motion, Its tremulous leaves quiver'd light in the air; 'Twas like viewing the surface of Summer's still ocean, If breath'd on its bosom the lips of the Fair ! Attun'd to such scenes was my heart's warmest feeling— Each blossoming shrub now luxuriantly shown : But one flow'ret alone was wanting revealing, And I wept to look round me, and find it unblown! And what was that flow'ret, that thus could awaken The flow of a tear for its absence or fate ; To gaze upon which all the rest were forsaken To own own it, no off 'ring, no value too great? Bright beam of my destiny, waft to these bowers, My JESSICA, rob`d in youth, beauty, and grace! Without her, this Eden of loveliest flowers Were nought but a drear and unsanctified place ! Dear girl ! could I tell thee what thoughts now are thrilling, How throb my full veins that were pulseless before, My mind's eye how warmly thy beauties are filling, My heart how it throbs to its innermost core ! Thou'd haste thee to listen, to tale as endearing, As tender and true as e'er greeted a maid ; Wuu'd hie thee to pillow thy cheeks' rosy glowing, Oa couch of delight in this sylvian shade ! W. If. A. PRISON DI SCIPLINE. SOCIETY FOR THE IMPROVEMENT OF PRISON DISCIPLINE, AND THE REFORMATION OF JUVENILE OFFENDERS. Yesterday a Meeting of the Friends of this excel lent Society took place at the Freemasons' Hall. Upwards of 1,200 persons, among whom were many Noblemen and Gentlemen of the highest distinction,' were assembled upon this occasion. Both the gal kites and the body of the Hall were crowded ith Ladies, many of whom belonged to the Society of Friends. Among the latter, was pa:licularly noticed, the benevolent Mrs. FRY, whose exertions in the be tevolent objects of this Institution are so well known and appreciated. On the platform were the Marquis' Of LANSDOW Lords GROSVI;NOR, BELGRAVE,„AUCK LAND, *Mid the Lord Bishop of ST. ASAPR ; Messrs. BENNETT, WIIITBREAII, At about half-vast one o'clock his Royal Highness the Duke of GLOUCESTER took the Chair. His Royal Highness shortly after add: essod the Meeting, and said, that he kit an anxious desire to testify the warm interest which he felt for the objects of this most ex cellent Institution; but he was at that moment lab Jur ing under severe indisposition, and he feared the state 91 his health would not permit him to stay during the whole of the proceedings. lie could have wished to eater into a detailed statement of the objects of the Society, but be had the satisfaction of reflecting that Len should be followed by an Honourable Friend, who Lad devoted much of his time to the promotion of those objects, and who would, not only state them to the Meeting, but also detail the steps which had already been taken for the purpose of carrying them into effect. It was a most gratifying and satisfactory reflection, that wherever the objects of this Institution had been stated, they had nut only not met with any opposition, but had been uniformly received with the most cordial approbation and support. His Honour :ds'e Friend would now state to the Meeting the os j ects of the Institution. T. F. BUXTON, Esq. in addressing the Meetingofelt some hesitation in being- called on before those Gen tlemen who were around him. Mr. Buxton; in an able speech, then proceeded to give a detailed ac count of the rise and provess of the Society, which had already effected much good t as it was well known that those persons who were reclaimed by the So ciety seldom or never relapsed. A similar Society to the one which the Meeting were met to celebrate, had been established at St. Petersburg h, the forma tion of which was principally owing to the represen tations of a Gentleman belonging to the Society, who posed the state of thektils to tl Emperor Alexander. Mr. Buxton then proceeded to state, that there were 8,090 juvenile offenders in the metropolis, and it was highly desirable to have a Juvenile Penitentiary, for many young offenders on being discharged from prisons again returned to their wicked practices.— Ihc Honourable Gentleman then recapitulated the objects of the Institution, which were—first, to esta blisli a central tOcus of communication upon its gene ral views and interests ; next, to form a Penitentiary for j•avenile delinquents; and, lastly, if it should be tl.e opinion of this Meeting, in furtherance of those objects, to keep up the temporary Refuge for the Destitute. Mr. Buxton concluded an able speech, by refuting many of the arguments brought against the prison discipline. The Marquis of LANSDOWN, in a short speech, in which he went over nearly the same grounds as the last speaker, moved a Resolution of considelable length, the purportof which was, the supporting of the Society, and stating the want of discipline in jails. Lord AUCKLAND seconded the Motion. Tile Duke of GLoucEsmit, after putting the Mo• tion, said he was now under the necessity of leaving. the Meeting. His Noble Friend (Lord Auckland) would take the Chain The Marquis of LANSDOWN rose and said, before his Royal Highness left the Chair, he should pro pose a vote of thanks for his condescension in visiting and supporting the Scciety—(Applause). The motion was carried with bleat applause. His Royal Highness briefly returned thanks, and then left the Hall amid the cheels of the Meeting. Lord AUCKLAND then took the Chair, after which Mr. VliouLeroncE, Lord GROSVENOR, and several other Gentlemen, ably addressed the Meeting in be half of the Society. s A series of Resolu!ions were also unanimously paned, in furtherance of the objects of th e S oc i ety , and of the utility of erecting a Juvenile Penitentiary. • A large subscription was received. At the Old Bailey, yesterday, .Edward M.& was capitally indicted for uttering two forged £1 notes, k r)' vlig them to be forged, with intent to defraud the Governor a, Company of the Bank of England. The facts were clearly pi wed to the satisfaction of the Jury, and a verdict of Guilty pronolneed. The prisoner was the last of those eapitallr indicted for passing forged notes. I:Amic CORN LAWS. TO TITS RIGHT HON. F. J. ROBINSON, PRESIDENT OF THE BOARD OH TRADE. SlR—There is no subject of deeper interest to the community than that on which I presume to address you, and as it will-very soon occupy the attention of both Houses of Parliament, I shall endeavour to lay before you, with as much brevity as possible, the rea fOns why think the present Corn Law better adapted to-the , interest of the farmer than any other which shall have for its basis a system of protecting duties. By the present law the farmer has a monopoly of the home-market till the price of Wheat shall have maintained 80c. on the average of the six weeks pre ceding any of the four periods of the year which go vern the import. Experience has shewn, that when ever the price exceeds the import mark, be that 655. or 80s. it proceeds from a deficiency of the home supply, and importation immediately takes place. It is of this the farmers complain ; their monopoly is then broken through, and they cannot submit pa tiently to competition with the merchant. On exa mination, however, it will be found, that in point of l fact they have no substantial ground of complajpt, for instead of the import lowering the market, die very reverse has really occurred. For information on this point let us refer to November, 1816 : The Ports opened on the 15th of that month, the average being - 925. 9d. Oa the 15th February following, it was -100 s. 10d. And on the 15th May - • -102 s. . . _ And it is very remarkable, that though the importa tion was free from November, 1816, to February, 1819, (with the exception of the November quarter, in 1817), and that during that period the value of Fo reign Corn received, exceeded 17 millions sterling; this average of the average prices which governed this import was 91s. 6d. Here then is a cfear proof that an import does not take place but from neces sity, and that then it has very little influence on the price, except so far as it prevents an extraordinary and insufferable advance. In the above-named pe riods the country was visited with bad crops, and but for this supply no inconsiderable portion of its inha bitants must have perished by famine. The advo cates of protecting duties sly, we admit the deficiency and the necessity for a supply, but this is the very reason why a duty should have been levied ; it would have been only so much taken out of the pockets of the foreign farmer, and put into our own Exchequer; this, however, I apprehend is a complete fallacy, as the quantity which the foreigner sends depends upon the price he receives. A terrain price will drain the coasts Of Europe and America; but if we require more, we must have it brought down from the in terior, and then the cost is increased ; it must be brought further and further, every increase of the distance increasing the price. Wheat, within the pe riod named, was brought 500 miles down the rivers to Dantzig and Petersburgh, and Flour 1500 to 2000 miles to the shipping ports of America. What brought this supply but the wants of this country, and the high prices we were willing to pa) for it? Surely it will not be asserted that if by any duty we had abridged the price received by the foreigner, the supply would have been as great, and as we un ' doubtedly wanted all we obtained, it is quite evident that if a duty had been imposed, the consumer must have paid it. An import of 17 millions sterling re quired an average of 91s. tid. and it will hardly be contended that an average of 80s. would have brought as much, or that if we had wanted 25 millions we must not have paid 955. to 100 s. It is the price which determines the quantity imported, and the price is regula:ed by the quantity required, and the, expense of obtaining it. If then, Sir, I should have succeeded in proving to tou, that the duty imposed must eventually be paid by the consumer whenever the wants of the country are very large, I will,.in the next place, draw your at tention to the consequences of protecting duties, when . the crop of cur owa country is adequate to its con sumption. It usually happens that when the crop of England is good, that of Europe is good also ; a good crop in England, it will not be denied, is equal to the consumption. Now, if with such a crop we should be , exposed to importation, from any scale of duties to which the country is likely to submit, the price must be depressed wretchedly low, and a succession of bountiful harvests would annihilate the agriculture of the kingdom. Even with defective crops in Eu rope, we have seen what immewe quantities can be spared, and with productive ones it is hard to say how low the growers would be willing to sell, sooner than hold a redundant produce which could scarcely be said to possess any exchangeable value. The present price of the best wheats, in some pf the lewer ports of the Baltic, is about 325. per quar ter, and I am satisfied it would still be lower, but from the conviction which rests on the minds of the farmers, that if they only persevere in holding their stocks, they will certainly obtain pretty nearly our import price, for it should be remembered that upon the whole this must be considered an *porting country. If, however, the present Corn Law should be repealed, and a scale of duties substituted, the first question on the part of the foreigner will be, "what duty shall we have to pay ?" and from that moment the price will adapt itselr, and importation will immediately take place. This too will com mence at a period when the price of our home pro duce is confessedly too low, but it could never hap pen under the present Law. It is true that impor tations in bond continue, and that at some future time the owners will reap the benefit; but why should they not? the benefit arises on British capital, and accrues to British subjects—for four-fifths of the im ports are on British account. Let the importation go on; it cannot interfere with the price of home produce, till its average value exceeds 80s. and when ever this is the case, experience has testified that we require all the aid we can procure. Suppose, in the event of a scarcity, we should require one million quarters of wheat, and that half of this quantity, .which costs the English merchant only 86s. per quarter, was ready upon the spot to be sold the moment the ports were opened, then we should re quire the other half from the foreign farmer, who would certainly obtain about 80s. Tor it. Is it not better, then, that one half of the profit on our own wants should go into the pockets of Englishmen, than the whole into those of Germans and Poles?— Is it not better that the English farmer should be contented to see this distribution of the profits arising from a great advance of prices, an advance which I would benefit himself, than that he should betray an unworthy spirit of jealousy, which, to sritiry would inevitably fix the. agricultural interest in 'a state of certain decay? Is it wise to aggravate and render permanent the grievance of low prices, by opening the flood-gates of the world on the payment of a duty, a duty which the adaptation of foreign prices will always render abortive? Who will un dertake to say at what price the foreign farmer can produce grain; but he who takes upon hithself to say at what price it should be sold when it is produced, betrays an atter want of experience in the vicissi tudes of trade, and of the necessities arising out sof rEdundance—necessities which frequently nothing satisfies but giving twice or thrice the quantity for the same amount in value which a better state of things previously required ? Is not a whole crop of hops, of coffee, or of sugar, sometimes sold at a loss of 40 to 50 per cent.? nay, are not our own farmers selling their corn for less than it costs ? and even if it sold for 20 per cent. less than it now does, they must go on; so it is with the foreign farmer; and if' the agriculturists of this country think they can hold out longest, I am inclined to believe they will be mis taken; but of this I am quite certain, that nothing but a blind spirit of jealousy, or of ignorance of the real cause of their difficulties, could possibly induce them to enter into so gratuitous a contest. The agriculturists, it appears, wish for a perma nent duty of 40s. per quarter, without reference to the market price—a demand more monstrous and unfounded, in reason or policy, was scarcely over heard of. They object to the average system in toto, because of its multifarious defects. That defects exist cannot be denied, but it may be affirmed with great truth, that most of these defects proceed from the neglect of the provisions of the existing law.— The law provides every man with power; it directs the bu-,-er zo make returns, and if the seller gives information that he has sold certain quantities of grain, if the buyer has not made a return, he is sub ject to a penalty of 101. and this penalty may be enforced by any Magistrate before whom the infor mation is laid. If there be any reason to think the Inspector does not do his duty, an order from a Magistrate may easily he obtained to examine into his conduct, and if he has failed, either fine or dis mission must take place. Bat there is another very important point involving the conduct of the agri culturists. The law of the land is, that grain shall not,be sold by any other measure than the Winches ter bushel of thirty-two quarts, and on this the re turns are founded. Instead of conforming to the law, the farmers act in daily violation of it, for they sell by as many different measures as there are coun ties hi the kingdom. The other day the whole country was in a state of agitation, in consequence of the return of Oats from Monmouth being 40s. Fraud was instantly imputed, but what was the fact? The Inspector wrote in ex culpation of his conduct, that the return was founded on the " customary measure," which, I believe, is about forty quarts. It is not then to be wondered that discrepances in the returns should exist, and it must he confessed that it is not quite decorous in those Gentlemen to come before the Legislature com plaining that the law does not protect them, when they cannot deny their neglect and contempt of its provisions. After a diligent intestigation of the present average system, I am thoroughly satisfied that it " works well," and is even wonderfully correct, considering the complication of its machinery. If the experi ment be tried of leaving out any, particular County, or any particular district, at any given period, it will very rarely be found to produce a difference of one shilling per quarter is the result ; and that difference is by no means uniformly on one side, either higher or lower. The Inspectors of the towns in the Maritime Dis tricts found their average on quantity and price, but the Receiver in London founds his return for the Ga zette on the average price only. Now it may be thought that this is an uncertain plan, but on trial it will be found to make little or no difference what ever. It is, however, still a more convincing proof of the general correctness of the averages. that the returns for the Midland Counties seldom vary so much as one shilling per quarter from the returns for the Maritime Districts. Whatever errors, therefore, exist in the average system, they, are uniform and consistent, and cannot be deemed a serious practical evil. If it be considered necessary to approximate still naarer to accuracy, the Landed Interest are in structed by law how to accomplish this point on their parts, and aided by some new regulations with re gard to a local publishing of the returns for each town (which regulations may be made under the ex isting law), I am satisfied that the average system would then be thoroughly and substantially correct. It should be remembered, that the present law was founded on that system which had been recognized and acted upon in all former Bills since 1778 ; there fore ignorance of its results cannot be pleaded, and when 80s. was demanded, it was granted specifically on that recognition. If any alteration of that sys tem be attempted, the import price must be altered also, or an innovation of the most serious and aggra vating nature may take place. For instance, the average price of Wheat in Scotland since 1792, has been nearly 12s. lower than that of England and Wales, and that of Ireland has been still lower : of course those districts could not be comprehended in the returns without a corresponding diminution of the import rate; but if the present mode of collect ing average is liable to abuse, why open and extend, the field of such abuse? Is it not better to correct and render perfect the existing plan ? There is an opinion very prevalent, that the de pression in the price of Grain proceeds from a re dundant import in 1818, but those conversant with the Corn Trade can !star testimony to its fallacy. It is a notorious fact, that on the Ist day of October last, which was about the time the new crop began to press upon the market, the stock of free Foreign Grain was then less than it had been known at any period since 1818 ; and I am persuaded that she , Ports would not hazre closed in February, 1819, had not the discussions on the subject of the Bank-Re strictions 'shaken to its foundation the whole corn• mercial fabric. Agriculture was not exempted from the consequences of that discussion, and ever since there has been more Grain thrown upon the market' than the immediate demand required. I can feel no he sitation in asserting, that it. is the approximation to cash payments which has produced the difficulties. under which the farmers labour, and under them they must continue tb !abaft, Ml'less the* ile a re- Mission 'Of taxes, or a mitigation of the scheme. for resumption of cash currency. Corn Bills will not avails Consistency and justice to all parties re quire, that as the value of money has been zraised, the nest step in fixing the import price should be re trograde. The Bill which passed both Houses of Parliament about a year ago, for an entire change of our monetary system, I will undertake to say, was the most adventurous measure ever adopted in this or any other country ; its consequences, I am con vinced, were not justly appreciated, and are only now beginning to be developed. It remains v) be seen what degree of pressure is to be inflicted by the attempt to correct, in the short space of three years, all the mischiefs of an abuse of the - piper system; which had been in full operation for a period of ar least twenty. There was something specious in thusr distributing the pressure of distress over a given pe: riod, hut I conceive it may be proved to demonstra tion, that in 1822 the distress will ,be much greatei than in 1819, and that it must then continue to in crease. No Act of Parliament could limit the period or ascertain the precise degree of suffering incident to a nation involved in debts, which the utmost stretch of its revenue, in its greatest prosperity, was barely sufficient to cover, when suddenly its currency was increased in value, by which its resources of every description were impaire 1 and gradually wasted. The public debt, the national expenditure, bonds, mortgages, leases, and taxes, continue un touched and unaltered • it remains to be witnessed how long this measure will be persevered in ; and if persevered in, what extraordinary and unheard of courses in the legislation of this country will be re sorted to. Feeling, therefore, the great uncertainty which pervades the future, and deeming, as I do most highly, of the value of agriculture in the scale of our resources, I cannot but consider any immediate at tempt to conform the import rate of corn to the in creased value of money, as a measure fraught with the most serious consequences, and wholly unwar ranted by any indications resulting from the progress to cash payments. lf, as I venture to think, a great error in legislation was committed by the sudden and forced elevation of the value of our currency ; if, as I conceive, the standard or Mint-price was fixed much too low, considering all the circumstances in which the country Was placed ; it will be unwise to aggra rate the mischief by following up with consecutive plans a measure, the consequences of which no one can yet fully comprehend. 11, unfortunately, it shall be discovered that the country is placed in the di lemma where " wrong cannot be done without ru.ia, nor right without afflictiOn,"a little-furtherexperience • will serve to chew what course it will be the part of wisdom to adopt. I - have taken the liberty of publishing this letter, because I think some of the statements may be use ful, and I address it to you, because, on a recent oc casion, you afforded me ample proof that there is no individual more competent than yourself to enter tain the necessarily complicated subject of which it treats. What is wrong in fact your habitual accuracy will detect, and what is erroneous in theory cannot escape you. I remain, Sir, with great respect, your most obedient and humble servant, Liverpool, May 11, 1820. JOSEPH SA/C.DARS. By the aggregate average of the price of Cora for the six weeks ending the 15th inst. the Ports re main closed against the importation of all descrip tions of Corn (for home consumption) to the 15th of August next. Notwithstanding, wheat, barley, oats, and pease, may be imported at the present. average prices from any of the British Colonies in North America, by certificate, proving such Corn .to be the growth of the Colony from whence shipped Trade has of late :considerably revived in Paisley, and the prices of weavin have experienced some little advance in consequence of the demand. Ti,e Bleachfields and Printfields have also been brisker during the last week. LEIPSIC FAta.—A letter from Leipsic, dated May the 9th, says, 44 The Easter Fair is now ended, and the result is generally known. Much wholesale business was done, but whether it was profitable, is another ques tion. The English were nunierbtts, and the quantity of English goods was very large, and most extensive dealing{ were made in the m . The house of Beh rens, from Hamburgh, sold English goods to the value of 800,000 dollars (above £130,000 sterling); but the German manufacturers have also done a great deal of business. The English calicoes were again very cheap, and therefore in great request. Silk goods were in very great demand; and it is af firmed that the quantity remaining here is very small. The buyers from the North purchased large quantities of expensive goods, as well as others. Thus a Jew went into the warehouse of a French shawl merchant, and asked how much per cent. he would' allow him, if he would take - his whole stoat? Li nens maintained a good prick; woollen cloths were much sought after at the beginning, and the finer sorts sold readily. ,‘ Though the English had deluged the place with goods, it would be untrue to say that they alone had done much business. Becker, from Chemnitz, Al brecht, from Zeds, and many othetl, sold large quan tities of their manufactures. In the retail trade, on the contrary, the Fair was bad, aid' fl* complaints in this particular are loud and weltrailiiiied. Colo nial goods remained at the forisiei ptir s. Articles of luxury, as well as objects of daily'nse, weie in . great demand. Straw hats could scarcely be sup plied in sufficient quantities, and those for children could with difficulty be procured at all at the end of the Fair. The Fair passed over without any bank ruptcy of importance." DIED. Yesterday, at the residence.of , her father, Clapham Common. •of a rapid decline, in her £24 year, Matilda, eldest daughter of Thomas Newton, Esq. Warwick-square. Lindy, at Bottwneg, - Carnarvonshire, in her 100th year, Margaret Griffith. Md k ILS sass D•Y.—ARR. BUZ. •ss. ors -Dublin 1 0 Lisbon • o 0 Waterford ff - 1 France 0 • Guernsey aid Jersey 1.. 0 Hantbersh 1 0 Hollatid I 0 Gottenbargk 0 1 HldH-WATERat LONDON BRIDSR TO-MORROW, Morning - o minutes alter 12 Attdrneeo - 13 -- 12 --- - - LONDON : h intedand published by Lam. Karr, ?idea ' Place, Temple-Dar /