The Statesman. — London, England, 1815-02-02 00:00:00

Val 114 ief ge Le air amid or, 0 see rli of 11 jittl• I y Tout!) Ii• 'On to an ail ' 1 reisol b e pal 41 &mai ‘idera to levy and n of soo of dean rings Bills] i. Chun IF exami 4qualit 1t yarisl office! it Re r. there dl *9 At t, perty a: fere! • be for dandle canon recess of trat p ' fain th • Any tu, from I it be me re . cause if • are we sumer who It duke ? jostly *hes ' of the sjie ge Wed t must tousle the I, al roil . - What , f food yowl can it been to Uri saw Tithes 1 ( p)%/ agricc i m p,,, t; Mr 173 Ng/ wish t on a I • a froci IDore that ► and b that a grai tendm bte panitu Mora copinir these tertaii the nu at all tint 11 Rm.) - 1 ; red range , tv h fectir, trids, meth( into t and il II.; iolr s!ii,ul( frem ter, a c.use Ailed Ira we C T7.or, " Thu duty }akin first t indigo forzot Gr would who si estren prices export corn s ha bita ,1 generally, not partially, and in the way that cer- Churchmen are taking upon themselves to point, .Iy, 66 robbing Peter to pay Paul." We long se e the clerical character giving practical examples retrenchment and reform, and exercising a !tip of that self-denial which they so de. ,ut!y recommend to others; for whilst the Per m and the Government reoeive one pound acre from landed property, it is morally impel si‘,le that the people of England can be fed at a reasonable rate, unless the landlords in general will b e patriotic enough to dispense with their customary demands of rent. It might also be worthy of con. •ideration, whether it is necessary for the Clergy to l e vy such heavy contributions upon the community, and whether they might not be more useful members of society, by reducing their incomes within mo• Aerate limits, than in running about to public meet ings to speculate and petition in favour of Corn Bills? As fur some of the young Members of the Church, we fenr they are better calculated for giving ex amples of vice than virtue, and lack the necessary .talities of grace and their calling so much, that their parishioners would be glad to dispense with their o ff i ces a ltogether. Relieve the land from these grievous burdenr, and there %sill be no occasion for the Legislature to pass an Oct for keeping up the price of corn ; landed pro. perry is like every other article of sale, and will find its revel so long as there is an open market; but if it is to be for ever loaded miLli tithes and immense taxes, the landlord must lose his rent, or manufactured articles cannot be made for exportation, so as to fetch the necessary return from abroad; and in case of failure of trade,it is known that the land will have to main tain the people after all. Any comparison between the profits derivable from land, rent especially, and those of trade mast be merely suppositious, we may say erroneous, be. cause the tatter are subject to risks which the former art not. If it could be proved that the mass of con sumers were is a situation of prosperity which those who have corn to dispose of did not enjoy, and could thfrefore afford higher prices; the riculturists might jestly desire that a part of the burdens which press se heavily on them might be removed to the shoulders of the consumers ; but the number of paupers, and the general distress which high provisions, accumu lated taxes, atia the miseries of war have created ) must cobvince every man who has a mind open to cuoviction, that the weight of distress with which the people of this country have to struggle is already sufficiently grievous—it is overwhelming.— WhNi the actual prices which we pay for our daily food are so :.acessive as they are, even at present, be. yowl the rate of subsistence in any other country, can it be pretended that due encouragement has not been given to agriculture ? The chief impediments to British agriculture are neither want of markets nor want of prices. They have been already mentioned. Tittles and tales, and excessive rents, are more p ful bars to improvement and prosperity in the agricultural department of the kingdom than any impoitations that ever were or can he made. Mr. WHITBREAD has said he wishes he could see vs again an exporting country ; we join him in the wish that we could behold thing 'again in this country on a level with those in other nations, so that we could affoal to sell as cheap as them ; but, whether is it more for the advantage of this commercial kingdom that we should continue our exports in merchandize, and be the emporium of the trade of the world, or that we should sacrifice these to endeavour to be a grain exporting country, which nature never in tench.d we should be? 11 e observe that Mr. MtLTIICS has published a! pamphlet on the Corn Laws, which the Courier an'l Mooting Chronicle of yesterday affirm supports their opinion on the subject. We leave the Readers of these Papers to find out w hat op;nion it is they en- tertsiti in regard to the law s relative to grain, and the mode proper to be pursued, for it is either nothing at all, or one thing to-day rind another to-morrow ; bit Mr. MArliit;s, who we should not forget is a lictvrend Gentleman, argues for an adequate and . red duty on importation as the must beneficial ar rangemetit both for farmer and manufacturer, and by which, he says, air end would be put to all the de fective plans of average prices from a number of dis tricts, which leads to great deception. By this I method, he adds, " corn would never be introduced into this country, when the harvest was abundant ; I and it would certainly come when it would pay for Importation. The single question would be, what ; should be the importing duty—say, perhaps, tea, fifteen, twenty, and twenty-five shillings per quar ter. according to the distance of the voyage, be- i c.use that which would be a protecting duty against A meek: and the Baltic, would he no protection against France and Flanders. This, with the right of cri.ortation at all firms, might at least be tried." " The right of exportation at all times," and a fixed duty on importation, adequate, no doubt, to a pro. Lbition—this was precisely what was wanted in the first Corn Bill, which was so justly defeated by the indignant voice of the people. But it seems to be forot that it is questionable how far the steady price i Grain is favourable to the farmer, inasmuch as it would put him more in the power of his landlord, who would thereby be better able to ascertain the extreme point of rent possible to be borne, than if prices were liable to fluctuation.—" The right of exportation at all times ;" that is, whether there were corn sufficient in this country for the support of its in habitants or trot ?—A very modest proposition. This E STAT. . • measure, he thinksOntgbi at tried. Vie experiment, we fear, mould 'remind some of us of the story of the man, an exporter of grain no doubt, who took it into his head to teach his horse to live without food, by the sim ple process of starving him. He tried it, but the horse died. Don QuixorrE could talk very rationally on all subjects, but knight-errantry. As to the plan of averages, which is said to lead to in jurious deceptions, we really think methods might be found for correcting it without throwing such bars in the way of importation, as might hate the effect of totally depriving us of the advantages derived from communication with other districts or other na tions. We fear that these are not the means of giving a " just and reasonable protection to the grower, and, at the same time, of securing a rea sonable, and, as nearly as possible, an equal price to the consumer." There is such a thing as losing an object, easily come at by the rules of com mon sense and in the ordinary way, by enveloping it among newfangled theories, and stoutly refusing to pursue or return to the only tract that leads to it ; and sometimes people's eyes and understandings are so clouded and warped by the mists of prejudice,ignoranee, and self. interest, that they will not see the plainest ob jects before them —nay, will resign their judgments to the controul of those who are continually preaching up doctrines inimiral to their known interests and pro fessed principles. Thus a paper like the Courier, which is the declared enemy of popular rights— which is preaching up the necessity of provisions being dear, and abusing whoever says they ought to be cheap, is read and patronised by those whom it is assisting to starve. We certainly live in days of ex treme liberality—when one set of men are modestly petitioning to have the liberty given to them of famishing or tasking the rest to death, " Aod holy men give Seeripture fur the deed." PLYMOUTIf, J.t r. 31.—Arrived the Jeanie fri gate from Portsmouth, and is to sail again immedi ately on a cruize, said to he in quest of a privateer that captured two vessels off this place :tut night ; also the Lee sloop of war on the same service.— Sailed the Zephyr and Zealand sloops of war on a cruize. There are accounts of the Wasp sloop of war of the United States being at sea off the southern coast, on the 10th November. She had burned a vessel be longing to Amelia Island. The Lacedemonian frigate chaced her, and fired at her, off Savannah, on the 10th of November; but the private letters from New York of the 23d December bring an ac count of her capture by the same frigate. There was an alarm excited in the City yesterday, by accounts that ten outward-bound West Indiamen (t,elonging to the fleet of 300 sail, under convoy of the Saiftsure) had been taken; the ship Jane, of Grangemouth; schooner Nine Sisters, of Liverpool; brig Louisa, of Maryport ; with six other vessels, bare certainly been taken. A Meeting of the inhabitants of the town and neighbourhood of Sheffield was to take place yester- day to petition against the renewal of the Property and Income Tax. That Austria should continue to keep Alexandria from the King of SARDINIA is not surprising, but that she should order her Minister, Count BUJNA, to live at the expense of the Piedmontese Government, is a novel introduction of Military power into diplomatic establishments, and at Courts where the Sovereignty is acknowledged to be independent. Advices from France, through a private channel, speak in strong terms of the flourishing state of the revenue, and it is alleged that several of the taxes have produced double the sum at which they were computed. The utmost economy is preserved in the royal estakrshment, of which the personal ex pellees of the Sovereign is reckoned at only 100,0001. sterling annually. The principal charge is a table, which is kept for about one hundred of the emi grant Nobility. TORBAY, JAN. 28.—Yesterday the sloop John and Sarah, of this port, drove from her anchors, and was lost on the rocks near this port.—Arrived his Majesty's ship Sealark, frost. Rochefort. lltawicH, JAN. ?S.—Sailed the Prince of Orange Packet, wits a Mail for Holland ; Lady Nepean Packet, with ditto for Cuxhaven ; and Earl of Lei cester Packet, with ditto for Gotteuburgh. TO IMli TWO MEMBERS FOR THE COUNTY OF DORSET, BUT MORE PARTICULARLY TO RR. PORTMAN. WRO 01- ?AIN ED 1115 SUFFRAGES FRO* TUE INDEPENDENCE OF TUC COUNTY. GENTLEMEN,—I cannot refrain taking up my pen on a subject which, I trust, mast have escaped the independent principles by which, Gentlemen, you were elected Members for the County of Dorset. I shall not attempt showing what you have done for the benefit of the County, as that may require a little intrigue, but I merely wish to state a matter which ought to have been done, and which, for reasons un known, have been left undone. Now, Gentlemen, let me recal to your minds the vast expenditure in the County Rates, and I am cer tain if you still possess independent principles you will agree with me, that the disbursements should not be arranged with the signatures of the Chaplain and Jailor. I am not desirous to suspect the Chaplain nr the Jailor of dishonesty, both of whom must be ho. nourahle men ; but I think it is a duty, and a most incumbent duty of the Members to approve of these disbursements, as we all know, generally speaking, that Chaplains of Jails and Jailors are not appointed for life—but looking forward to better preferment. Should these hasty lines merit the attention of the Editor of the Statesman, I knew this letter will be perused both by Mr. Pitt and Mr. Portman with some fear.— I am, Gentlemen, with respect, interest of five-and-twenty votes, and your humble Servant, c av il°, Jim. 18, 1815. A PLUMPER. Ti rms EDITOR or rszs STATESMAN. Sta,—l have seldom perused a more clear and comprehensive exposition of the state and necessities of agriculture, than in Mr. Cuawaa's " Address to the Workington Society," which appeared in your Paper of the 12th instant. The testimony of such a man ought to he received with the greatest deference; for, as a statesman, he always proved himself the efficient friend of the people, by opposing corrup tion and supporting Parliamentary Reform; and as lan agriculturalist, few men have had more experience, and still fewer have rendered their country greater service: his Reports are the epitome of all that is I practical and philosophical in the science. I am led to these observations by a desire to cor rect a misconstruction you have put upon one part of the Address. Mr. CURWEN, iu common with all theguederate and reflecting part of the community, opposed the Cep Bill originally introduced by Sir . H. PAIL/HILL, hich had for its object to advance the price at wlsWi. foreign wheat could be imported, at the low de to 105 s. This measure he consi dered itecipiti4 fraught with dangerous conse quences, and grounded on imperfect evidence. But, Sir, what does he say with reference to the Bill modified by Mr. flushissom ? It has his decided sup. port ; nay, he even says, he thinks the price at which importation should be allowed, at the low duty, ought to be 87s.—so that he does not, as you seem to represent, deprecate the revival of this pro. position, but depicts, in the strongest manner, the absrilute neceltkity of its adoption. j Wu justly observe, Sir, that something most be ! done for the agricultural interest. The farmer has now to contend with the complicated evils of high taxes, low prices, 'bad crops, and large foreign sup. plieh. You say diminish the taxes ; but, in my opi nine, this, at present, is neither practicable nor po litial, As much the friend of Reform as you are, I Iltiik venture to maintain this opinion. We have couttacted certain,debts, whether wisely or not it is now unnecessary to enquire, and I see no reason why we should flinch and shuffle off the payment on posterity. The Income Tax I detest; but lam wil ling,' fpr,a limited' time, to submit to some other, and merely on the principle of paying as we go on. Let us have no more funding. If this system had been adhered to, the expences of the war would have put an end to it long before we heard of Bostarawre as Emperor. Besides, Sir, I apprehend you are.not exactly aware of the little influence which rent has on the outgoings of a farmer. From the replies to a Circular Letter, addressed by the Board of Agri ' cettore to 42 intelligent and practical men in the dif ferent counties of England, it appears that the ave rage, as applicable to 100 acres, is as follows : Reat Ts' es ael6l 12 7 Brnught forward ,6531 9 1 ::8 17 9 I Manure - 37 7 0 Rates - 3819 2 'team Wear and Tear 31 4 10 Taxes Labour - 161 12 11 Interest Seed I 98 1; 10 ISI 19 i 18 1 4 50 5 6 Total Amount 771 16 7 531 9 I The accuracy of this statement is testified by the signatures of the different Gentlemen, and the sepa rate returns may be found in the Lords' first and se cond Report on the Corn Laws, page 1 15. You 4111 now see, Sir, the small part which rent forms of the disbursements of a farmer. The single item of lelsospr amounts to as much as the rent; tythea and pbors'-rates to nearly half as mach ; these-facts have not been believed by the multitude. The direct tales, it is true, are small ; but then the articles con tained under tie heads of labour, team, and wear and tear, are subject to imposts that Name will not remove. The unfunded, a floating debt, amounts to about 60 millions; and immense arrears are found to be due by the Government on winding up the war.— Now, as the whole sum, whatever it is, must be paid by taxation, I am decidedly of opinion that all classes ought to bear a proportionate share, and none be placed in better capacity for payment than an other— a just sense of equity will frail every man to to this confession. Let as enquire %that has been the effect of peace upon the contending interests ? It has opened the whole world to us, for the sale of our manufactures, and it has opened to the whole world, in our own country, a sale for grain. Ma nufactures have advanced, and grain has fallen, fallen to nearly one-half the war price; yet the ma • nufacturers and mechanics are crying out, we shall be rained ! you will all be ruined if there is a Corn Bill ! The truth is, the manufacturers and mechanics are the only people benefited by the peace; and the agriculturists the only people injured ; for taxes must and will be levied for a time, just as they were during the war. Now, mark the folly of the people; why don't they cry out, let us have the benefit of peace? Let us have cheap ribbons, silks, gloves, watches, and lace from France? 011! no, they never think of this, it would ruin our manufacturers, the prohi bition on import must continue. Again, why don't they say, stop the export of stockings ? this they ne ver think uf; it would ruin our manufactures; this would be reprobated by the Luddites, and would not answer : or why not say, stop the export of sugar? It would certainly make it cheap for a month or two. In short, Sir, there is no end to folly. Our whole trade is founded on a system of restriction ' • and pro perly so too, when the different nations of the earth are under so many arbitrary and capricious governors. If these governors would consent to be always at peace, and suffer the products of their respective countries to be exchanged at pleasure, restriction in any one Government would be folly. But it so happens that we are never at peace long, and it is, therefore, indispensibly necessary to take care of ourselves. The people must not be indulged with cheap ribbons, silks, laces, gloves, and watches, for it would ruin fine staple manufactures ; and, at the breaking out of war, we should have to pay double or treble the price, for a time, to attract capital to that employment. It is strange the same reasoning does not strike tho enemies of the expected Corn Bill. France and Holland have had no occupation for capital but in the cultivation of land ; they have been deprived of commerce by an arbitrary Governor, they have pro duced a great deal more corn than they want, and, of course, have produced it at very low prices.— Are we then to suffer these impoverished countries to Invade and ruin the agriculture of this kingdom, by underselling our own farmers, by giving them, for $ redundant commodity, an equivalent which thby re- ' oar lemossel quire to make them them manufacturing nations Tf we do, the consequences we shall bitterly lament. When the price of Wheat has hero' •ery high in time of war and' scarcity, we have managed to procure from one country or other about 36 days con sumption, and they are now going to send us 72, or s perhaps 100; the consequence will be, if they are, permitted, that the produce of Cori) in this country - : will fall off to a most alarming and dangerous et. tent ; then in the event of a delicito.t crop in time or war, not scarcity, but absolute famine would afflict us, and all the Powers of Europe could not save us from its horrors You may compel the farmer to sell our clop cheap, but you cannot compel him* to grow another, for who will follow a trine by which immense loss is as evident, as that two and two make four. It is a fast, respocling which any ge..tteman may satisfy himself, that if in some districts the farm ers paid no rent at all, they could not live ; and those the most favoured by genial soil, cannot live at half-rents, provided the present rates of grain were to continue. Sir, we have long been a rr iv e d expedients are necessary ; le! charitably towards one another, a sutler for a time, we shall surviv , beset us. We have come out of glory than any other nation ; and oat of it with more debts ; let us us vigilantly watch the expenditu; and call out for retrinchtient in pensions. In the course of three taxes will be diminished, and then, cheap things of all kinds; hat, till tact our agriculture by passing. a portation for a limited period. A price to 87s. at which Wheat col duty free, would still place eiery situation than during the war, fm been more than 100 s. Finally, Si have plenty and moderate prices ;•t ways have plenty and low prices.— obedient servant, AN OPPONENT OF THE FIRST Liverpool, Jas. Vb. CHRIST'S HOSPIT At a General Court of (governors, day last, Mr. Waithman presented from the parents of children, siati children had been elected by their rysi as fit and proper objects for the aliovi had been efused admittance, because come within the rules of the Insti ing attained the age of 10 ,years; • boy had been since admitted "under stances, notwithstanding he hid attained Mr. WAITHMIIf moved Resokti , rules and the facts stated, and that be referred to a Select Commit tde, mine how far the said rejection others may have been in conformi regulations of the Institution, and what measure should be adopted thereon, to a future Court. A very long discussion took pla, proposed to substitute the Commit instead of a 4elect Committee. Mr. Warruatall contended againv . t in the motion is" would send th is busisseark same persons who had before decid , At length the proposition was Resolutions passed unanimously. DRURY-LANE.—SNAKSpEARE's achni of As You Like It, was performs which Miss WALSTEIN supported Rosalind, in a style of true excel her effective exertions throughout, _ to the high reputation she had alread , obtained among the most favoured Tr She sung the Cuckoo Sung with co and was not only loudly encored pleasing air, but, what is very ui called on for a third repetition, a she immediately obeyed, and cowl! ferous cries of Bravo !—ller genera the character was received with the approbation from a very crowded audience; end the delivery of tt greeted by three distinct rounds of COVENT-GARDEN.—Last night f itt tion of a new musical farce, entitl Sister, took place at this Theatre. in Spain, and the plot, which is lively is nearly as follows :—Don kylrio de about to pay his addresses to fn . & ra Christoval de Tormes, by an artifice, milla, is represented to have chancd her. Pos•essed of this information,lsido, nion, and her servant, when he arri supposition that he is a woman, and . rant, who is personated by Liscorr, the maid, in disguise. Both m star astoni.thed at the reception they me female.; in Don Christoral's house, whimsical mistakes are the conseql last seem likely to part Don Sglrio for e►er, when Comilla, who I confusion, puts an end to it, by own person, and gising the requisit, The music, by Messrs. BIcIIOPP ai ticolarly the compositions of the for► hr pleasing. Mrs. Ltirorr, Miss flusspsvr, and the other ►ocsl pert ted themsel►es well. But Miss the chief attraction her singii •• • -` , 4 flimsier tnafacturing nations re shall bitterly lament. s hPvii very high in tine e managed to procure ✓ about 36 days con. going to send us 72, or • ice will be, if they are, If Coll) in this country. ing and dangerous ex* deficiet.t crop in time or tee famine would stric t trope could not save us the farmer to I ( • cannot compel him' to allow a trine by which that t tvo and two make ; which any get,tfeman some districts the farm- I could not live ; and venial soil, cannot live ?sent rates of grain were rrived at a period when let us nit justly and er, and though.we may survive the evils elet•N t of tl , war with more and we have elso'come t us paxthem off; let nditure o - t obr oroitei * t in • iiseleis places eta - • three or ion"; yoati oar • I then, Sir, let oti havi , it,llll then, lei ea' gash • r ng . a . restriction on int.. 1. A Bill to raise the tat could be imported t• every man in a hefts: if, for the average . haa - Fy ly, Sir, let us always ces ; 'for we cannot al. • ~ ices.—l am, Sir, yo.ar . E FIRST CORN BILL • TSPIT4L. Ivernors, on 'hues. . • • seated do Memorials swing that the said heir Is pectiee parishes, ihe above Obeeiff,**ool.• because thOy eV not lostitotion, they ha liars; although anothclP under the same circumi • t rd a t ta b ee d the said age. lesolutiona reciting the id that the same should itrie, for them to mi. tion and 'admi. , ,ion of rormity to the t oles and , and whether any and ted thereon, and report t place, wherein it wall ommittee of Almoners I against such atteratiou I the business before ' decided on the cases. • • was adopted, and the sly. se's admirable Cotnedy • rformed last night, its orted the character of e excellence; and, by lout, added not a little d already so deservedly tired votaries of Thalia. vith considerable taste ; ' ored in this light and ery unusual, she was on, a call with which concluded it amid sod. general delineation of tin the most unqualified )wded and fashionable of the Epilogue was t Is of applause. 11 ; ;ht the first represents- entitled Brother a•,d are. Tine scene is laid • ; lively and interesting, 'trio de Flores, who is idrr a, the niece of Dun rtifice of his sis , or Ca. haug-d thunders with ion,lsidora, her cocrpa. arrives, act upon the , and Pacheco. his ser- istoar, is regarded as nu stet and man are IPV meet with from the ruse, and a variatv of :on'equence, which at ialrio and his mistress vino had caused this , by appearing in her quisite ex planation.— ire and Ilcays (par. to forma's), i 9 ostreme. • Miss MATHEWS, M r. II performers, acquit- Miss STEPHENS was ,ingieg was sufficient piece, had the au- unfavourably of it, on the contrary, it ; ' great applause. Tine - 1 Lime greatly en. • It went oil' with the d for repetition, this oice. ktlje•ant General to at Pnrtstitouth in the d from -thence upon a j i to America. . 9i rr Cifficers of the Regu. • • i s 'commenced pa)ing ~ A • • 4 • t to here recommended the piece. dience been inclined to judge unti which they certainly were not ; on was received throughout with great comic tiering of 14' twoirr and Lim hanced the value of the piece. It went utmost eclat, and wns announced for - eveniug, without a dissenting voice. Gen. ral 'ir IL C tr.vcar, Atljnt the British Forces, is exrcred at pert course of this week, to proceed front special and confidential mission to Af The half.psy of the r->clueefi Cifficr. hr Army, for the last half yeat s 'cor on Tuesday.