The National Register. — London, England, 1817-09-29 00:00:00

RCPT. *O. SPANISH AMERICA. The following interesting pane on the right which any parent State has to the exclusive trade of her colo nies, is extracted from the tract on Spanish America, portions of which have already appeared in our co lumns. All the states of Europe have at different times catablished colonies for event to their procloctions and manufactures, deriving from them in return those precious fruits, which serve to satisfy the demand of the European markets, accomplishing thus the double object of en cottra;,eing national commerce, and erecting a national marire. But this would perhaps be the first instance that has occurred of a nation desiring to possess colonies fur the benefit of ethers and with no view to its own interests. " England is the country where the greatest desire exists to foment and assist the spirit of independence manifested in America, and where too, the greaten endeavours are made to show the absunlitv of any attempt on the part of Spain. to deprive her colonies of a free trade. At the sometime dint her subjects act in this manner, her government follows the pnlicy which the vomit condemn. and seeing that her islands or colonial possessions wet,' supplied in the greatest pin osheh fte wants by Amenean vessels. on better terms than by her own, has exercised the rigorous prudence of exclading the former almeether. England, u she understands well the system of colonise tem. desires to swank her own interests, while, at the same time, she does not withhold from her colonies those advantages which can be enjoyed without prejudice to herself. These are the principles which Spain has followed, and desires still to pursue. It would there fore be very strange. if in similin circumstances, and actuated by si milar motives, sae endeavonred to make that appear erroneous in others, which she herself approves as her fixed line of conduct. " It is indeed a maxim universally admitted, that colonies are useful in porportiou as they are rich. for their riches proceed from their su perior cultivation, and from the additional commercial transactions to which they lead. Without doubt, England for instance, derives in. calculable advantages from the possession or her rich colonies ; but it L nseessary to remark, that she reaps these advantages because in their cultivation, she allows English capitals alone to be employed. and sending out from her own ports , all the necessary articles of de mand, receives in exchange, all their rich productions ; thus realising by both operations, profits without a drawback. Let us now exa mine how this maxim would be applicable to Spain, in her rela tions with her transatlantic possessions. In virtue of the proposed opening of their ports, there would be an indiscriminate onneourae of all nations to trade in them, which, equally with the colonial territo ries. would derive considerable benefits from the measure; but, in the mean time, where would the mother country stand? she participate in any moderate degree, in the advantages which appear to be her due? No, certainly ; her advantages would be very limited. It is clear, therefore, that the maxim above stated, is apph eable in those cases in which the nation, to which the colonies be long. participates directly in their territorial prosperity. " In the past year (of litifi.t the exports from the island of Cuba, amounted to about eleven minim' of dollars, arising from the ex tensive traffic carried on with all parts .of the world. The inhabit ants must have prospered in coasequence of the impulse thus given to agriculture. " Equal, or perhaps greater have been the advantages reaped by foreigners who have traded. Bat what advantage hat Spain, the country to winch this :ninny belongs, derived from it ? That state of prosperitywcolit certainly have been more desirable, had Spain participated in it ; but w e cannot say this, while we recollect that the great abundance of shipo, so far fern being useful to the mother country, rather dintinislied than increased her general commerce. Of what service then could alien colonies be to to, if others reaped all the benelk_s of their trade ? Row would England hear the idea that after having expended immense capitols in the cultivation and im provement of Jamaica, the United States should be allowed to com pete with her in the importation and exportation trade of the lAand ? Neither t se Spanish nor any other nation, however thought of re teini ng their colonies for the sole advantage of the revenue which may arise front the customs, or other civil contributions, which have never allows sufficed to defray their local charges. She has, oar the contrary, looltrd to her transatlantic dominion;, as the means of pro matin;r her trade, and enriching her mercantile subjects. As a proof of this, it may be mentioned, that bAbre the fatal revolution, and during a period of the greatestmatiquillity, the direct revenue aris ing f ro ,„ t h e provinces of the Plata, never exceeded the annual sum of .500.000 dollars, this colony sending to the Peninsula only a re mit:enc..: of 0,003,001 owl , three or fool. years. Outing tluis period Spain had to mainsails various ships of war on that station, which, together with ticepaekets and other vessels, which it was necessary to keep up. there time exhausted the sum we have mentioned. In such circumstances, it will easily appear, that the eecluoive COM memo we enjoyed, was the only nseass of reimbursin s t us fur the expenets we incurred, but in thr case of a free trade, this species of compensation, wuald entirely fail, and instead of the commercial advantages which we minder at the roily reason for retaining over colonies, we should only hold them by the tenure of the saentices which we shook' be conmelied to make on their account. " To me it appears that tie clamour about a free trade, is only a plausible pretext assumed to mask other designs, for a little reflex. rum would comince the most intemperate. that ['tete is no nation ' which does not lay restrictions on its own trade, touch more on that Wits colonies. In England we observe, amid the encouragement which she gives to her vast commerce. and the stipport she lends to 'tier commercial Interests, that trade is shackled by a thousand restric tions. Particular corporations have cachisive privileges of telficking with mort'cuilitr establishments. altlio.kgh such partiality to public bodies is allowed to be prejudicial to individual enterprize. " The East Indiarompany, the South Sea Company. the Company trading to Bahia and Iludsons-bay, enjoy each of them a monopoly or the respective Ms-riches of commerce implied in their names. In t h e same manner we have in Spain, the Philippine company which enjoys the exchisive trade to Indio, while there is no doubt that if 1 tit restrictions weieeleilished, there would not be wanting merchants who would employ their capitals in a competition with this fevouired 'body. Thus we sec that even the commerce el the parent stose. is placed tinder restrictive re;mhttions , although the policy of such a metsureis readily admitted sod patiently borne. I cannot thi•relbre isreseive, on whatgroatuf the colonies can deimind freedom of trade is th e mal t ex ten s ive sense of the word, or a' Aire to immunities and Looms, of which the patent state is deurived, even in time case of na tions, which she held up as models Co their liberelity to the corn menial interests, and their free principles of commercial policy." The Gaulte of Tuesday, contaias a notice from the Speaker of the House. of Commons. in pursuance of the Bank Restriction Act, declaring, " that on and after the Ist of o.:tober next, the Bank will be ready to pay cash for their notes of every description, dated prior to the Ist of January, 1817 " The state of pub credit note now be said to be secUrely established and Conrishing daily more and more. A special cotmaission has been appointed at Derby, to try the prisoners against whom true bills have been found for hi Lt li treaskin. Its sittings commenced on Thursday, but the trials will tbe proceelA in till the pth of nest nitnith. T:iy prisoners are ace used of being found arme,l, in mi;itary array, and marching, £S :vas supposed to Londo•:. Mr. j..5:LuA1..1).):: wil: TO THE ELECTORS OF IVESTIVINSTER, LETTER 11. GENTLEMESI,—I address this second letter to you, the " Electors of Westminster," because I will not deviate from the title which I inodvertently gave to the first, but it was my intention to have addressed that, as well as this, to, what are called the " Independent Electors If Westminster," for it is with them only, that I have to have no affair With that body of Electors who are not honoured with the distinctive appellation of " Indcpedent," and who, we must therefore, suppose, are dependent, that is, are not free agents, but guided by the will of others. Looking back to the list of names re turned by the voice of these dependents, only within our own time, I find Rodney, Hood, Gardener, Samuel Hood!—What Can I say to names like these t They arc as much above my censure, as they are beyond my praise. But even if this list were less brilliant thank is, it were unfair to charge any of the evils which bare at various times befallen yon, upon the de pendents —the men of their choice beat your taper, eimenee.s npou the sea, and returned to combat your secret foes in the Senate. They never secoded froni their duties at home, but for the purpose of keeping the enemy from your doors, and, that duty fulfilled, they returned like the warrior-statesman of old, to resume their equally important tipmeat:e occupationa. With men of this character, and with the men who elected them. I can have nothing to do. It is to you the " Inde pendent Electors," I address myself, because it is the objects Of your choice whose conduct I would arraign. In any first letter I told you that it was my intention, not only to investigate how your representatives had fulfilled the duties of their high stations, but also to enquire what were the merits of those candidates, who,though unsuccessful, have, at various times, found favour with thousands of yon. In doing this, it was not my design to have. gone farther beck into the history of your clue:ions, than the pericol when you lost Mr. Fox, who bad so long been the " God of your idolitry :" but upon a second thought I have &confined to take a slight review of his conduct, as well as the rest; and if in stating facts, I am compelled to say anv thing severe of a man whom you considered immaculate, the faith must not be charged tome, but to haul , who through is long life,liad Jewry and consistency contitsually in his mouth, yet übetted a aeries or the most bloody and oppressive tyrannies, that has ever stained the annals of any age or country ; and who, in the very first session in which lie sat in parliament, gave a speci men of that inconsistency which afterwards became time radio istic feature of his political life. Von hove lone been accustomed to regard Mr. Fox, to Pt rolitical character of the very first order, infinitely superior to the great MAN to whom through life he wits opposed, and one of Ilia biographers is consittei ed to have only spoken the opi.aion of the majority of you, when lie said in the true spirit of party, that he ap peared destined to be the fininder of a political school in Etiglaud—capable of raising her in the opinion of other na tions, it was his ill fate to be opposed by a minister inca pable of appreciating his merit, and unwilling to recommend it to the approbation of his sovereign ; though himself unfit to be premier, and indeed inadequate to fill any able department of the Staten." Let us now look at the career of this '• founder of a political school," this man, as ho, among others has nese so often held up as an instance of the pub lic virtue and splendid talent which would adorn the Bri tish Senate, were all parts of the kingdom constituted like Westminster. In the very onset of his public eat err, lie lent himself to a Ministry which has been execrated a diem. sand timea for its total disregard of the rights of the subject ; he voted against the ;Iliddleacx election, anti the first speech lie made iii parliament, was against Mr. Wilkes. who, what es ea were his tonic,' or his crimes, was In that instance, a persecuted man; and tinder this Sallie administra.ion he accepted the office of a Lord Commissioner of the Admit alty. Disgusted at what he conceived a peisonal offence, lie it signed. Vat, Vet, so Intel of place was lie, that lie suou after accept, d the aituation a second time, and subsequently a seat at tin 'Treasury Beard, his antlelen removal front Which by au order comm.-titivated at midnight. is well known to you alt. These early events in his ife, were perfectly con aisteot with what foliovred.—During one whole session he had supoorted the measures, and couatittitell u part of a weak and imbecile administration; anal without other cause than that of twill; turned nut, he, in the next, anal several succeed log at snow. beetame one of thuir bitten eat opposers,—So much for lits political integrity. WIICI/ the ;towel fel talents of die Rockingham party had diaiodged Lord Nosh and that ministry wills which Mr. Fax hail formerly 'acted, he, still eager for place, readily dCCePICII a seat in the Cabinet, and the situation of a Se cretary of State. Soon displaced by the death of the Mar quis of Rockingham, be " returned to his vomit," and formed the celebrated coalition with Loral North,—with tin , man whom he had chareed a the times with every ertine, whom he 114:1 de.rrilimi as a monster, with whom, lie would not trust hiniaelf IN the same room, and whom lie had promised to bring to the scaffold for his preteaded iitical crimes. The la e or 11,:it ooion was SLI4II, as it de. served, and Mr Fox again 101 l the mortification Of m retreat from office. But the period now ariived, when he was to give an example of' loam and steady cansisten,:g. No Ammer dial the Fri-inch Revolution burst forth, than lie let ded it as the doweling of a brighter day than Europe had yet seen. Every 111C,1*111 . 0 of the Revolutionists lie applauded to the *kits ; he laughed to acorn all those who ye:wired to Mee t, II the rimi which would, and did ensue; anal ahem the scenes of carnage became too horrid even tor recital wtaeu a virtuous sovereign, and the nearest and dearest to his heart had perished on the scaffold ; when the prime nobility and the must virtuous of all ranks had either fallen sacri• flees to thc: fury of licentious mobs, air had been driven into exile ; still Mr. Foa could see molting but virtue in Fl ;Met!. When lIIs political friends fell from him, one by one, hoi rot struck at his waist of right feeling, still lie pet aevered Not a Jacobin Club was establiaited in this country, ole received hi: sanctiou ; not a measure was adopted to guard against the furious machinations of ani brutalised enemies abroad, or furious revoltitionists at home ; but was treated by lion, with the greatest asperity and ridicule, Bellied in every ittent to give currency to the creed of a hardened and moody democracy, deviled in the Commons by every frieud who woe worthy to be called a friend, and aalloated Jaeger to ..it empty tat nclies, he seceded from that lonise to which von had sent him to represent you, and romenied iioiself with breathing forth at taverns, dinners, and rae ;mite nem-sings, the most Inner' invectives against every thing i.e good :elitaireil,and the ilepray..l th•spi•tal. Thus were you left without any npresentative in the COM'nOnS douse. Of 11: of them was fighting the hattlea of your count,, 50.,1 the other haranituring turbulent moh3 fromtavera tablets and seafitrldiaira • Tott..e. lifc of To . in Palace-yard. Roused atillgib by a sense of shame, Mr. Fox re turned to his seat in the flip elr Commons and shortly after revived" the same dis!rraceful seine width had taken place in his younger days. He coalesced with Lord Grenville, and again became& M imsterof Stage: Never, perhaps was there a man whose panicsl feelings were so tabus ted to every sense f honour or propriety as Mr. Fox, Lord Grenville had not only been loaded with his abuse for years past, but in return that nobleman bad not seen sparing in arrainging tile conduct of his antagonist, yet the moment that pleoe was again in view, Mr. Fes drew a veil over ele past, and united wth him whose measures bad. mainly thwarted ail lila attempts for the fifteen ymrspreceding. How far your favourite representative.redeemed the pledge he had so ob.-, given, fon can bast judge. The swarm or needy men whom he placed and pensioned, the imp„sition or new and offensive taxes, and tisc doubling of Vie most oppr,so.ive old ones, are proofs of the worth'avr. nese of his political prolusions. For the applauseofJacobin clubs hw, sacrificed the friendships of such men as Portland, Wyndham Burke, and in his last moments. (aixonling to his eathudasi et-login) he declined the friendly advances of Sheridan, among faults, however, rumerous they might be, no man could ever recii.sz want of patriotism, and whose crime, towards Mr. Fox, to say the most of it, was of a negative character only. " In what I have said, I have confined myself to a view of Mr.. Fox as your representative;—as the scholar, as the gentleman, ns tl: 4 private friend, when pclitici, did not interfere. he is an object of ad miration and esteem. Hat I willput it to your candour now that trey hour is past, now that you can dispassionably revtew his conduct reprcsentiag von, and yours 13 eludin4 him, whether he was EUCti sn representan.,a as you would shoos: again ; and yet how istaiM . tly perior to taose ulto followed him. COURT OF COMMON COUNCIL. THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER ASSIZE Or DREAD. Mr. Dixica as7,cd, if the taking away the Assize of Dread laari been found here:l.:hit to the city. He wished the matter to . bt .cuired ir.to, and tint: the several Acts that had been passed for re:;.2- lating the pric.i of Bread should fa.: taken into consideration. Th,, Lord Mayer said, he Iva: sorry to observe, that taking away the assize had not been followed by the expected competition email the bakers. An average of the price of corn had been formed among, the tratle,but he was fearful that it was not taken upon correct datitat must however, be admitted, that the great part of the blame Wei altribrtable to the public themselves in not having ?iven proper ee,.. cnuralan.ent to thos bakers, who were ready to Rend a supply RI a fair and reasonable rate. Ile was of opinion, that nothing short nt again fxirg the assiz.: by the Court of Aldermen could rernedy.o,s evil. TE.O77.NATION OF THE SABBATH. Mr. Davis referring to an entertainment proposed to be given ••• the Sheriffs, on Sunday next, (this day) protested against it on u? Fart of the religious public, ar. a profanation of the .t.abbath. he Lord Mayor said, that there would be no interference with the hours ;of Divine service, 'as foe ceremony would not comin.tr,e till atter one He had no doubt, it' it was the wilt of tiv• Court, that the whole would be postponed till Wednesday. Mr. Dixon obsrrvcd, that the bare tnc:ltion of the eircumsta^q" erculd be the means of collectir.gatTowd, as it would now get men tic - in the pubic papers, v, lieu as, if cot Ling had been said, the eh.* might have passed unnoticed. SPA-r (ZEDS !TOT. Mr. Jupp presented a petition from a gun-maker living in the at... ncries, who Inv: tome prcperty at the time of the Spa-fields lies, praying that C:e Court would reimburse him ; he moved that it might be te:crred to a Committee. Mr. 't'well oh:e•led or. two grounds; f.rstly, the party might cover it fr:n. the Hundred ; and, sc ozdiy„ the funds of the C•t 7 were rot it: a smte to throw money away,. Mr. Jupp said. that the property could rot be recovered from eat Hundred, because it was a robbery and not a demolition. Mr. Dixon supported the refcrrir.g it to a Committee. Referred to the Committee for General Purposes. • A Memorial was presented front 9einpaon , DolLnan, comple'l of a great injurywhich lie had sustained in mrsequeuce of ins ye wises being omitted in the post...office Act, and praying fora :oilmen sation ; he sLatl in co:sequence of that omission he had tr.li put to great and unnecessary expences. and had lost an opportuM4 of dis• posing of his property to great advantage. After a for observations by Mr. Pausal, Mr. Dixon, and Vs. Alderman Gsalbehere. it was referred toe Committee. The Report of the Committee appointed to consider a petition from Lord Grosvenor, for leave to erect an embankment along :Ail• bank, was bronght up. Mr. Dixon objecte d to the Report, being of opinion that the offs front Ltd Grosvenor of 500 guineas was not a sufficient compeasa to the City.—The Report was ultimately agreed to. HIGH BAILIFF OF 80t7THIVAIII. A Memorial was presented by the High Bailiff of Sonthwark; sayinie,that a Reyttisition had been served upon hirulor his attendance at the'Surrey Amazes and Sessions; that not tinding that it had braes 'the practice of his predecessors to give such attendance; he halt paid no attention to the summons, and in consequence of his no complying with such a requisition, a fine of 201. lied been levied upw..l,, him. lie prayed that the Law ()Nicer; ache ( ity would protect IM -t against this fine. antlgive him the proper instructions tar his conduct on future occasion& The Cotumittee cf Thames Navigation delivered in a Report re commending the whole amount of 'roll authorised to be raised by the Act of Parliament, being an addition of one penny per ton a t t the different locks within the city's jurisdiction, and one halfpenny per ton on barges, &c. navigating to Kew and Brim:ford, to be en forced, and to commence tile YSth of September instant, which beiLg read, a debate ensued thereon, and a motion b,ing made to miser with the Report. un asuendiaent was moved, that the same he printed which was negatived, and tl:c original motion agreed to by a Cofl4. &Table majority. An onle.r was then pie:Nisi firetati:Nily, and lie notice directed to be given pursmmt to the iirtiasion , 3 o; Act. The Mike of Beatonl and the Lite lord Southampton several yea ago made a private earri:i.ge road in a dir,et line front Sritithaihpton. row, to the New-road, by which, to all r•r,ons p;;iiditg to Camden Town, a round about of mole than a furlong was :aved„ while to those pasting to Somers 'Form, it was equally near and more ammo ' thous This road has hcea isocasinnally opened. but it could not be permanently so till a lodge and footitmOi were taade. Thi. 1144 ieligth Leer done. under tite view of . M;, istrates. and agreeably to the provisions of the Statute. The neighbourhood is grvatly he nefitted by the alteration, as a dangerous nuisance is re:timed ; since tlo: open and large space of ground. now inclosed. was the nightly haunt of the most profligate persnos. A new footpath has been made parochial. whereas, b e fore, foot-trivellers were intermixed la itb ' horscs and earrisesis, and •hus the public convenience has been in st etirs•nollv attended to by the Noble Proprietor. The new church for • St. d'aneras is likely to he built on the adjoining ground, and the ditch, which is no: icetnl, but running water, will be made a covered sewer. Upwards of 60 notoi se!li k yts have been fitted out this car for 1 1 -e h•r in ti,hcry oue coa-t, several of velach have arrived at Var. month, where what is ternhal the Dutch fair has commenced. The eminent mercantile house of Nleq..rs. Frunzius and Co. at Leipsic, has been artier the necessity of ems rending its payr.ient. Its engagements are slid to x.-.l.)nut to up:var.:a of 3,‘10,0t14) of Datch.guilders. 1‘ t \ :t\s,