The National Register. — London, England, 1816-08-05 00:00:00

20f! lie avowed the meeting that it was not his intention to (bite' b or oppose the measiiie which they had in contemplation. All he desired was, that the resolution should be put upon a true and proper footing. By a return which he held in his hand, it appeared that the nett tevenne of the country was betweeli sixty-two and sixty-three millions, upwards of 10,009,0001. of which was absorbed by the interest doe on the national debt. It Was this thdt bore down the population of this coon , ry ; it was from this origin all the inischinf proceeded ; and it Was 1111011 a recognition of this fact that the results:ion in miesti ought to be founded. The insoppin table In id of this taxation, pi bi cipally caused by a system of profuse expeinUture, And the prodigality with which large 411111 s were la, islied upon indivi dual-, was the great evil Si hich required to be cored. If, there. fore, no other person should move an amendment, he 01 Id feel it his ditty to propose an omission of that part of the romp. lotion which ascribed the distress, d state of the country to the transition from a state of war to a state of peace, and to state the cause to be an coot s debt and a lay iSh espenditure. Mr. Knowles seconded the anuatilinent ; observing, that it wasa str hug symptom of the deeliniug stiste of tilt. country ,that tint re wan slot a single article of our minuilsetores In which we did not now labour under a disadvantageous competition with other countries. The distress was universal ; and in Stockport alone there were 1,1100 person.; out of ionployment. Mr. Wilberforce said, he was himself too much of an Englishman, and had beets too long engaecil in political trans actions, to feel any surprise that those who felt warmly on slich a subject as the present should be anxious to give expression to heir sentiments; but lie could not help think ing, that upon cool reflection, the noble lord awl the gentleman who had just spoken would be of opiniosi, that their own object would be better at tained if they colitiami themselves on this oecasion to the dis tinct queßtiOn nodes eOnsiiirration. The noble lord said the country was in a crisis, and would they apply a mere topical remedy but he might ask the uoble lord if he won't' refuse to assuage the pain of a distemper because Ii hail it not in his power at once to mire it radically i•--(.4pplefoir,) To Bins the existing distress appeared to Le a distemper which rather called for immediate alleviation, than for a sireculative discus oion of its cause. He thought the twist charitable :mil manly cuarse to he pursned --that whirls most be most congenial to what he knew to he the noble lord's own charitable and manly disposition—was, not to call upon the meeting to give an opi nion 11p1111 a political question not under consideration, so as to divert them irom pursuing it with diligence and confidence ; Lot to p( stpone to a fitter opportunity a discussion of this na. t ire, and to unite cordially in the general cause or finding em it oyment and encouragement for our suffering fellow-citizens. referring to the plans adopted by the association of Ihl2, lie was also a witness to the frank avowal made by the late Mr. Whitbread, that he had been mistaken : and that he was con vmceil by subsequent observation, that they had operated most lemeticially in communicating an impulse and a tone to the ex ertions of the country, without which they might never have been called into act . For these reasons he felt extremely d-sirous, and entertained sonic confidence, that the noble lord would he induced to withdraw his amendment. The Duke of Kent said, he had offered the resolution as I; la . ud been put lulu his hand; and if lie had conceived there had ueen any mention of a cause upon which a difference of opinion could exist, lie hoped they knew I • sufficiently to be lieve that he •I o Id have been incapable of requiring their as sent to it. He bes.acil, therefore, now to propose an om ission of all that part of the resolution which had any refereuce what ever to the Calls.' Or the present distresses. Lord Cochrane declared, that he did not wish to create any nunceesiary difference Of opinion ; and with regal dto I • - sof indilidually, he had no objection to witlidiuM the amend ment. The Duke of York then read the amended resolution, which was put and carried. The Duke of Cambridge observed, that after the very excellent and appropriate speecliei which had been made, and the explanation which had taken place, it would be inexcusable in him to take up any of their time further than to move the re aolution w hich he held in hi, hand. He had had the means of witnessing the extensive good achieved by the association of his 20 months' absence from this country he had also had the I sitt.s.itet.on of seeing what benefit h a d b een de rived in Germany from the liberal subscriptions set out loot in this coantry. After the handsome manner in which the noble lord had consented to relinquish his amendment , and am they could have but one common object, that of charity, lie antici pated an entire witanimity of opinion. lie returned the noble lord his thanks for having come forward, anti regretted that any allusion whatever had been made to the cause of the pre vatting distresses. The fact was indisputable, that distress and great distress existed ; and he trusted it was equally indisputa ble, that the humanity which had been so conspicuously dis played in the relief of distressed foreigners on other occasions, mould not be found less warm or active when the objects of it were our own sufferim; countrymen. Here His lioyal High ness read the second resolution, and sat down amidst loud testimonies of approbation. The resolution, was seconbil by Mr. Reed, was put by the Doke of You It, and carried in the affirmative. The Archbishop of Canterbury.—Berore he moved the resolution which lie then u n it in his hand, he wished to make one or two observations in introducing it. It might be said that there was something in this attempt, both in appearance sod iu fact, so iota legAdie to the greats end which they had in • mw, that it was not surprising lissome entertained apprehen• *ions of a total : not it should be recollected, that if no attempt were to be made until we were satisfied that we had *anew and strength enough to cast off the whole of the calamity, and if we were to remain nosier this impression !Passive and quiescent, the evil would be gaining grositid in proportion its our menus of resisting it were diminished. The report, how ever, midrib had berm submitted, proved that former efforts for a similar purpose had not been ineffectual, and fund:lied them at least with AA AliCiAlrAgilel example. Mr. B. Lon,',4. seconded the third resolution, which was evrried unanimously. The Duke of Rutland expressed his confidence that, with regard to the resolution he was about to propute, flu rr would be no discordance of opinion. After a few other re marks, his Grace submitted the fourth resolution, which was seconded, and carried likewise in the atilt:native. The Bishop of London rose to trespass on the atten tion of the meeting only fur the purpose ut sooting it I Which lee had no doubt would meet with nominations approba non. It was a motion of thmks to the illustrious Duke who fiat honoured them by taking the chair, and who was particu larly entitled to the gratitude of the country for his cornflour on this occasion. Ile st islied merely to add the expression of hit own anxiety to promote the object in view, anti his sanguine hope that it would be attended with success. Mr. Barclay ruse to second tae inotion. THE NATIONAL ItEGISTPII. Thu Duke of Kent put the question ; observing, that it was impossible the chair could submit a propositiou whit:► conveyed a compliment to itself. The quention w•as carried by a great show of bawls. The Resolution. carried I were : 1. That there do at this moment exist a stagnation of employment. and a revulsion of trade, letply aff..-aing the situation of many putts of the community, and prxitteing many instances of great local diitreas. 4. 'Fitat from the experienced itzneraiity of the British nation, it ntay Vr confidently expected that those who are able to alnutl the means of rdicf to their fellow.othjeets will contri'ettu their utmeat endeavours to remedy, or allexiatz. the sufferings of those who are particularly dis tre.sed. S. That although it be obviously imiwissible for any association of individuals to att:nyt the general relief of difficulties affecting so large pmportion of the public, yet that it has been proved by the experi ence of this association, that nowt important and eaten dye benefits may be derived from thew-op:ration awl curreipondence of a soziay in the inctmirrlia, encouraging the efforts of those benevolent individual., who may be disposed to associate themselves in different districts fur the re lief of their several mighboarhoods. 4. That a subscription be immediately opened. awl contributions generally solicited, fur carrying into effect the objects of this assoeia tion. [The Meeting was nnmerous and respectable; and we most sinetrely regret 'hat am political topic was introduced on the occasion ; 4%, however just it might be, it had a tendency to di vert from the immediate purpose of the Convocation. We have no room tardier to observe at present, titan that a stsbseription was immediately opened ; at the bead of which is our ii uvtri. ons Regent with a princely donation of 5001. followed by the Queen, Dukes of York and Camhtidge, 3001. each ; and in a short time near 10,0091. were subscribed in aid of the laudable purposes of the Meeting.] Though the present distresses ore too deeply rooted to be remedied by mere temporary expedients, yet it is the duty of all to alleviate, as far as they can, the sufferings they cannot cure. One Correspondent stater, that on the disuse of shoe buckles for shoe-strings many hundreds of buckle-makers were thrown out of employ ; and by the adoption of covered, instead of metal buttons, many hundreds of button-makers were de. priced of their daily bread: be observes, that if these two branches of ltirminghant manufacture were again introduced by the Nobility and Gentry of the kingdom, much good might result from it. From another source we learn, that a plan has been adopted of employing doubt.• the number of labourers, by a greater subdivision of labour. A plan of the kind NM been adopted by the market-gardeners to the westward of the me tropolis, which is highly praise-worthy, and we mention it that it may excite imitation. 'I lie late inclement weather prevented Them from employing in their grounds, or in carrying the pro duce to market, the great numbers of labouring poor, chiefly females, who annually visit them from distant comities. Many of these industrious creatures must have starved, or taken to vicious courses, if their ease had not been taken into consider*. thin. It was therefore agreed, that sorb employment as there was in the grounds should he equally divided 411101Ig them, and that they should work only on alternate days, The private families in the neighbourhood co-operated in this plan, by giv ing household work in the intermediate days to such as were then unemployed. The plan has succeeded perfectly; and now that the season has become rather more favourable, the indivi duals in question arc no longer burthensotue to the neighbour hood, for they have resumed their usual employment in the fields. Much might also be done, according to another writer, to give employment to the poor, and produce an abundance of food during tl:e ensuMg winter, if lauded proprietors, great and small, from the possessor of thousands of acres, down to the owner of a mere cabbage-garden, would sedulously cultivate every patch of ground now• waste o• useless, and plant cabbages, turnips, carrots, ant potatoes, for the winter, on such spots ; and if an inclement winter should succeed, an ample fund for distributiou will thus be provided at a small ex pellee. Extract from Suggestions for producing Public Improve ments, and atiording employment to the Labouring Poor, by Mr. M. Phillips:—" Grateful as the country will feel for the Subset iptions that will be raised fur the assistance of the Poor, it is hoped such measures will be recommended to the atten tion of the Legislature as may place the lower orders in a situa tion that will enable them to support themselves. The Landed Proprietors have now an opportunity, as wavy new arrange ments must he made, of letting their lands in small farms, vs kb a covenant in the lease for a plot sufficient to keep a cow to he allowed to the labouriug cottager. No language can anffici ently state tl.e blessings to the community fr small farm+, or the evils that are felt where they have been mouopolized.; farm after farm has been added together, so that England is now be come a nation of starving beggars, exhibiting at each vestry the most pitiable and heart-broken objects. In many instances, within an hour's walk of a parish church, there were formerly front all to 100 happy families—the little farniers—initastri ouslv employed in producing not only the common articles of sustenance, but abundance of the comforts aflife. Every cot tager's child had it+ dish of milk, of which the hungry babes are now robbed. %What is become of those happy useful fami lies, that so regularly, neatly, and piously assembled every Sunday at their parish churches ?—the good people who sup plied the markets, the towns, and the villages, with such int mom" quantities of butter and cheese, pigs and poultry, and made the land to overflow with milk and honey ? Alas! driven from their little kingdom, these once happy people, the has. band, the wife, the sons, the daughters, are learled into misery, wretchedness, and want. The distresses of the poor are greatly increased by Of waste, or, in better words, common. which afforded great assistance to the surrounding cot tiers. The taking away these privileges %VHS like taking front them a table furnished with provisions. To have kept them away from parish support, crainba at least should have beefs thrown before them--a trifling piece et . NW should have been allotted to each cottage.—(lieu ES snoer.o me EX TEN min.—lf England had three tine's its number of inhabi tants, every city, town, and populous place might have an abundant and cheap supply of another species of food, namely, Ft sit, from an inexhaustible store; and thousands, and tens of 'log.11 , 41111; of hands belonging to mid cuimected with the Fish eries, would find eniplos uncut. Every place in the country should have an interest in promoting our Fisheries— " Oh Cod ! thou dolt prepare, Thmagh earths, the sea, and air, A bounteous Hill of Fare." Some thousands of work Men may be employed for a time in the ovement of roads, eacavatiug hills, and upon the dilita cut harbours.' PROVINCIALS. AUGUST 5. DISTRESSES IN THE COUNTRY. The most melancholy and distressing steromits are received of the situation of the 'Miaowing classev in Staffordshire, thrown out of employ by the decline of the coal and iron trades ; 117 families in the township of Mon alolle art without food, ex cepting what is riven by the baud of charity. In five pari.hes, 15.000 arc out of employment! though reduced to starvation, they are yet patient and limiest In the midst of their fah:sings. Extract of a letter train Colicky, near Bilston, July 16:— 6 * My heart bleeds for the poor helpless children, pale as death, crawling about like walking skeletons—to recite the sufferings of Mild. viduals . world fin a volume. A fele days ago. a woman Yetl.4 found about IA yards from my brother's house; she had a young child in her artist exhausted by Hunger, and unable to pnweed, she was hand on the ground, with the child at her breast, in a ses.sele..a, and, to every appearance, in a dying condition; she however revived, and wa admit/Ist:red such food rs we confider:A most suitable for her. When she could speak, she told us her husband hal got no work; that she had several children at Tonne, to whom she had given all she could heg the two preceding days; that she hail bad nothing during that time, and had famished herself sooner than they should tlie for want she had walked to where she was found, and being unable to proceed farther. had resigned herself to her fate, and would have perished for want within a littk more than a mile front her home, had we not hap petted to have found her." The commercial embarrassments of the West Riding of York shire were last week aggravated by the stoppage of another banking-house. On Tuesday 11Icssrs. Brook and Sons of Iluil derstield, aft( r struggling for about three arils with extreme difficulties, arising out of the shork given to public credit by the stoppage of a neighbouring bank, were obliged to suspend their pay Int lit%. The Chipping Norton Bank of Messrs. Cnrgan, Matthews, and Co. has for the present suspended its p.i)inetits. The .iniworth Bunk, Paget and Co. has also stoppt d payment. AGRICULTURAL REPORT FOR JULY. The long continuance of cold rainy weather through the mouth will have retarded the harvest to a later season than al most ever known ; and in the more northern districts the tem peidnotis weather has considerably laid the several kinds of luxuriant grain. The Wheat crops, however, carry, in gene ral, a promising appearance, although there is some apprehen sion in the eastern counties of mildew, from the unusual suc culence of the straw, which more warm and genial weather, it is hoped, may correct. The Bat leys are fine in most counties. Oats, in general, arc not so good. The Beans, which are too full of growth, are not found to set so well as their bloom pro mised. Potatoes, except on light soils, have run too much to haulm for a very productive crop. Turnips are a genial plant, but want drier weather fur setting out. The voting Clover; have planted kindly. The }'allows oo heavy soils are back ward, from their wet state not admitting of being cased about. The Clover crops, with other Hay, have suffered in most coun ties front the incessant rains, and, in consequence, the produce (Whist year is rising considerably in value. In some districts, large tracts of meadow land are still umnowed. The Hop plantations never varied more in their appearance than at this season. Some of them round Canterbury, Maidstone, and Farnham, look promising, except where they have run too strong to Line. In Worcestershire the general appearance is unkindly. The latter math Grass is abundant, and the price of Lean Stock, of most kinds, has got up in con-equenee. The Meat Markets remain nearly at last insinth's prices; and in those of Wool there is but little variation fur the better. END or THE WOALD.—Among the numerous absurdities that have appeared on this subject, not the least ludicrous i% one that has come forward at Flambro, in Yorkshire. A person bad a cow, who was delivered of a calf, which, on its entrance into the world that was to terminate so shortly, immediately ut tered the following/surliest/observation : A very hard Winter, A very cold Spring; A_plentiful llarveat, But few to gm it in. Oa which the owner of the calf was so much astonished ta well he might be at this extraordinary poet), that he (hopped down dead immediately ; but, what is still more extraordinary, the people in the cuuntrs give , credit to it. IloAnnEas or SILVEII.—The wife of a person at Monmouth was lately thrown into consternation, on being informed that the silver in general acid:slim) was mostly of a spurious na ture, and would not be taken at the ;Mint in exchange for the new coin : the tar of a great loss induced her to communicate a secret she had long kept, that by saving anti hoarding of shillings she had accumulated to the amount of 3001. A shop keeper and neighbour of the former found also, upon the like report, upwards of MI. in silver, althongh both had frequently been unwilling to accommodate their custoutets with change, expressing, in loud terms, their wonder what was gone with all the silver, anti their apprehensions that, like the gold, it would never return again. There ace instances of servants also, who. linable to gt t gold, and tearful of keeping the bankers' notes, have got all their little savings in silver.—eonaty Paper. A person in Alston. who has for some years followed the trade of a barber, recently opened a spirit shop; when, to the 1:1/ ?•!11411 admiration and amusement of his at:plaint:ince, he hoisted over his door the following appropriate lines ; Rove net from pole to pole ; but here turn in, Where nought excels the shUving, but the ght: A Manchester Paper says--" Last meek, as the story goes, n couple of filen As called at the pablic-house of Mr. Ogden, at Blockly • and. whilst regaling themselves, a dog belonging t o one of them came suddenly in, and dropped at his master's re 4 a bundle, containing a quantity of Hook-notes. Both instantly stooped to take it up; but the owner of the dog Ailed in getting possession of it, and the other, securing it, plc ads the title of hotter fortune to justify his elaim to detention ; whilst the other asserts his right, limn the agency of his (boob outward, and has already made it the subject of legal enquiry. [tumour has swelled the amount of the notes to I AM. ; and, %hut is singular, no person, in the quality ofowner, has yet come forward to set tle the dispute." VPGIIANTs.- - A few days ago abaut thirty of these propk, of both sexes, properly equipped to exiite compassien, were taken up ut Sear borriugh, in their road to &rimer Fair. where they intended to commit their depredations on the credulity of the pnhlie. NI - lien they were ta ken by the constable, they were found reftaling on es and cakes. and luta ordered a 'pundits of lamb for their sum) ca. lostea.l, however, of being able to enjoy ail the luxuries wt.:eh their rt.: raw. pn:vvlg mrtle necessary. they were conimitted by the afa g istratt.s of Scat!xtrotisll to the Iloose of Correction, where tiny were detained until the lair at Seamier was concluded, and were tl . ..as very properly r resented Irons exercising their trade oa the puuL.:.