The Press.
London, England, 1853-07-23 00:00:00

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LONDON, SATURDAY, JULY 23, 1863.

POSTSCRIPT.

HOUSE OF LORDS.—FnIDAY.
The Earl of ABERDEFN moved the second reading
of the Succession Duty Bill.
The Earl of DERBY, in opposing the bill, observed
that the financial measures of the Chancellor of the
Exchequer consisted of two portions—the one, the
attempt at the conversion of the Three per Cents.—an
attempt at first heralded as a triumph, but at last
admitted to be a signal and melancholy failure ; the
other, this succession duty, without which the finan-
cial scheme would fall to the ground. The noble earl
proceeded at some length, and with great minuteness,
to criticise the bill, which he pronounced to he unjust,
inasmuch as it altered the whole character of pro-
perty in this country, and retmspectively imposed a
heavy burden on former settlements---evils for which
no pecuniary advantages could compensate.
The Duke of Anoirm. supported th.e bill.
The Earl of MALWEBBURY strongly opposed the
measure, which he characterised as unworthy of an
age which boasted so much of progress and en-
lightenment.
After some discussion as to the interpretation of
certain clauses,
The Earl of DERBY announced his intention of
moving clauses for making the bill prospective, and
for limiting its operation to five year*.
The bill was then read a second time, and their
lordships adjourned.

HOUSE OF COMMONS.---FRIDAV.
The house met at twelve o'clock, and the early sitting
WIN occupied with the consideration of the Tenants'
Compensation (Ireland) Bill, and the committee on
the Pilotage Bill.
The house again met at six o'clock .
Lord J. RussEt.t., in moving the adjournment of
the house until Monday next, intimated that in the
present state of public business he 'would not move
the second reading of the Education. Bill during the
present session. On Monday week lie would proceed
with the committee of supply, and on Monday next
he should move that orders of the day have prece-
dence of notices of motion for the rt.mainder of the
session. The noble lord added that there were
several bills fixed for Wednesdays, an d, as there was
not much chance of their passing, !be trusted hon.
members would also give precedence 1.0 the Govern-
ment on those days.

AND Trslaw.
Mr. LAYAND then proceeded to interrogate the
Government with respect to the M ate of the
negctiations between Russia and Turk ey, and the
production of papers on the subject
.. IL 3 doubted if
Europe had previously witnessed acts so u Riustiflable
and so dangerous as those which had been com-
mitted by Russia during the last thre months.
Not only had that power occupied the territories of
Turkey, but the cemmuniceth addrese ed to the

THE PRESS.

latter and to this country were most offensive. If
this country had prote-sted against these proceedings
on the part of Russia, he thought such protests
ought to be placed before the public, in order that
they might judge of the course pursued. This
country ought to protest against a course antagonistic
to its interests and true dignity, and dangerous not
only to Turkey, but to all the other countries of
Europe. Every day's delay increased the opportu-
nities of Russia. He trusted, therefore, that some
papers would be furnished on which to ground an
opinion, and that the Government would appoint
some convenient period at which this most momen-
tous question could be discussed. (Hear, hear.)
Lord J. RUSSELL, after having referred to points
in his former reply to questions on this subject, ob-
served that the negotiations would exhibit how
much her Maje,ty's Government had at heart
the independence and integrity of the Turkish
empire. Of all the preparations for war, the
best was to exhaust every means to obtain peace
—(Hear, hear)—and he thought the house would
agree with him that, until every means of negotiation
had been tried and found wanting, no Ministers
would be justified in placing at hazard a peace which
had existed so many years, and on which the wealth,
commerce, and liberties of Europe so largely de-
pended. (Hear, hear.) While negotiations were
pending, however, he thought the house would agree
with him that it would not be wise to produce papers
which might be debated in a popular assembly, and
exposed to popular comment. He trusted, then, on
the forbearance of the house and of the hon. mem-
bers, as he had confidence in their patriotism, not to
press any motion for the production of papers.
The motion for the adjournment of the house was
then agreed to.
The house subsequently went into committee on
the India Bill. Clauses up to 43 exclusive were
agreed to. Clause 40 was struck out. Clause 41,
the last in the bill, was then agreed to, and the
chairman reported progress. The committee will
take the additional clauses on Monday.
The remaining business on the paper occupied the
rest of the night.

CIRCULATION OF THE PARLIAMENTARY
PAPERS.

THE select committee on parliamentary papers has
reported strongly in favour of their distribution to
literary and educational societies in the provincial
towns and rural districts. They support their opinion
by citations from the evidence of numerous witnesses,
among whom are Sir A. Alison and Dr. Lyon Play-
fair. It would appear that great interest is felt in
parliamentary proceedings, but that the facts accu
mulated in blue-books and committee reports remain
quite unknown to the mass of readers. The public
" knows what is said in Parliament, but not what is
done in Parliament." On these accounts an extensive
distribution is recommended ; but " great care must be
bestowed on the selection," lest the value of the gift
should be lessened by its bulk, and the furniture of
the library degenerate into stuffing for the waste-
paper basket. Neither will the same selections suit
all localities equally. Manufacturing reports are
useless in agricultural districts, and vice vend. The
consideration of expense is wholly disregarded :
1,0001. a year will probably supply all reasonable de-
mands. The committee conclude with the following

aaaaaaaa •
1. That a 'select committee of five members be appointed at
the conuuencement of each session, of which two shall form a
quorum; and that to this committee all applications for par-
Inunentary papers from free libraries, mechinites' institutions, or
other public institutions established for literary purposes be re•

fi:red:
2. That. on the receipt of any such application, the committee
*hall direct an inquiry into the charrcter of the institution, the
number of its members, the accommodation it can afford for
piuhiunentary documents. and enabling the public to consult
them; and generally into any circumstances which, in the judg-
ment of the committee. may afford a guarantee that the books
presented shall be carefully preserved, and rendered as accesible
as possible to the 'public.
3. That, with this intOrmation belire them, the committee re-
port what institutions ale lest entitled to receive the parlia-
mentary papers, and select such papers as they consider beat
adapted for distribution, regard being had to the particular Mu-
rests of each locality, and that no more than one institution in
the same town or district, unless under particular c:remnstances,
be entitled to the privilege: that, on such report being agreed to
by the house, the printing committee make arrangements as to
the additional number of copies which may be required.
4. That the committee be empowered to forward the reports
and papers selected for distribution. free of postage, to the seve-
ral institutions, and to impose such conditions as in each par-
ticular case they may think tit for their due preservation, and for
facility of public access to them.
ri. 'that each volume so distributed bear a stamp, stating that
is to he preserved in the institution.
ti. That an annual report of the pmceedings of the committee
be laid below the house.

A FATAL A CCIDFNT took place on Thursday afternoon
at the Northside Colliery, Bedminster, near Bristol,
by which three poor fellows lost their lives, and seve-
ral others, it is reported, were severely injured. It
appears that the men were ascending the pit in the
usual way, the rope broke, and they were precipitated
to the bottom of the shaft, when three of them were
killed.

SATIIRDAY,

COST OF SLAVE LABOUR.
TO THE EDITOR OF "THE PRESS."
Sir,—Your paper of the 2nd July contains your sae.
respondent " Civis's" reply to a letter of mine rela-
tive to the increased production in the United States of
slave-grown cotton, rice, sugar, and tobacco, sines
l 840. From his letter I perceive the increase of cot-
ton to be nearly 50 per cent., rice more than 250 per
cent., sugar nearly 100 per cent., and a decrease is
tobacco of nearly ten per cent. for the crop of 1852.
The principal item in the cost of producing these
articles is labour, and the advantage to be derived by
the United States and slave count ies, in using that of
slaves over other countries using that of free men,
may be anticipated, ere long, from the certainty that
the rapidly-increasing amount of the precious metals
now taking place will cause money to fall in value,
and free labour to rise. Thus, for instance, a slave
that in 1848 might have been valued at 1001. will, in
all probability, in 1855, be worth 1501. ; and money
that in such slave country was worth in 1846, say
twelve per cent., will probably in 1855 bring not more
than nine per cent., if so much ; thus, 1001. in 1848 at
twelve per cent.=l2/.; and 1501. in 1855 at nine per
cent.=l3/. 10s., a difference of 11. 10s. against the
slaveowner. On the other hand, a rise in the value
of free black labour from one shilling, which is but
the average cost in the West Indies for the six or
eight hours of leisurely labour that is given as a day's
work there, and the only cost of a slave to his owner,
may be put at about the same sum, including interest
on his value, and also on his wear and tear or mortality,
say ten years ; but he is compelled to work con-
tinuously all the year through, from sunrise to sun-
set, and half the night also, in crop time, or the
manufacturing season, with a powerful stimulant,
the lash, behind him, and, on a moderate calculation,
can be made to do three times as much work in the
year for his Is. per day cost to his owner, than the
free black can be persuaded to do in the same period
for is. a day wages. The latter always declines
work on wet days, and does not work on the average
five days in the week—four would be nearer the
mark. Therefore a rise from is. to is. 3d. per day,
for, say, 250 days, would amount to 31. 2s. 6d., from
which deduct the It. 10s. against the slaveowner,
and there remains 1/. 12s. 6d., the advantage that
would accrue under such circumstances to slavery,
and thus showing that slave labour will be but
little altered in cost ; in fact, should money in slave
countries fall from 12 to 0 or 7 per cent., it will be-
come cheaper.
I have recently seen it stated that the value of
the cotton crop of the United States for 1852-53 is
estimated at 200,000,000 dollars, or 40,000,000/., and
that of tobacco at 65,000,000 dollars, or 13,000,0001.,
and if the value of the rice be put at only 1,000,0001.,
and the sugar at 2,500,000/., we get a total of
150,500,000/.; and should such articles a year or two
hence rise in value 25 per cent., or should similar
articles, the produce of free labour, be enhanced in
value 25 per cent. by the rise in value of such labour,
then, in either case, the slavegrower would
se have an
additional advantage to those he already possesses of
25 per cent., and on 50,500,0001. it would amount to
14,125,0001., and free-labour competition against such
a change would be hopeless.
The increased number of slaves required in 1853
for the increased production over 1840, allowing two
tons of each of the above articles as the annual pro-
duction of an adult slave, is considerably upwards of
100,0(10:* and if we consider the great mortality
among them from hard work, coarse food—and Mrs.
Stowe tells us that in some cases they can afford to
use them up in seven years—and the runaways, of
whom 10,000 are reported to be in Canada, the
source from whence the increasing supply is derived
must be a very prolific one, be it from breeding, from
Yucatan, or from Cuba ; so that to Lord John Russell,
who has the character of being a religious and hu-
mane man, the thought must be anything but conso-
latory to reflect that his unasked for act of 1846 con-
signs thousands upon thousands of human beings to
hopeless slavery, gross immorality, and premature
death ti• to the aggrandisement of England's most
powerful commercial rival, and the certain ruin, ere
long, of the West India colonies ; and, believing that

* Mr. Ingersoll, the American Minister, at the agricultural
meeting at Gloucester on the 14th July. stated "that the quan-
tity otcotton lox grown yearly in the United States is 3,000,000
hates, and that in 18.110 another 1,000,000 bales would be added."
Now, of thin article about. at two tons per man per annum, and at
one ton per acre, it would require an additional 100,000 slaves
and 200,000 acres of land in 1860; and if such cotton sells for
only 6d. per lb., it would give 112/. per slave, and 56/. per acre ;
and supposing a slave to oust them 200/., and that he lives ten
years, and that motley be worth 6 per cent. and that his food and
clothing cost 6 per cent. on his value, such slave would earn
annually for his owner, net, 681., or 34/. per acre. On lord
George Bentinek's sugar and coffee committee, at questions 2465
anti 2166, the cost of a slave's food, clothing, ttc., is stated to be
3/. lls. per annum: this would make the earning 761. 3s.
" But, if the statistics of the slave trade are to be depended
upon, there can be no mistake in concluding that, for every ton
of slave sugar t onsumed in England from 1846 to Imo inclusived ,
an African negro has been consigned to perpetual slavery, an
two Africans have been killed."--Vide Coloosiai and Asiatic ltc'
view, September, 1652.

Jun '23, 1853.

in thi4etter I have put forth nothing either impos-
sible a improbable, i hope—for the sake of my
brothcr planters in the West Indies, the cotton-
growers of India, and also for the purpose of draw-
* the attention of the Anti-slavery Society to the
subject of the rise in value of labour, from the fall in
value of money, as a new feature likely to be
latch in favour of slaveowners—that you will pardon
tie length of my letter, and give it insertion in the
fr,Ess. And I remain, sir,
Your most obedient servant.
July, 1553. AN 01.1) PIANTER.

THE LATEST I\t►:LIJOE\CE from Constantinople is
communicated by the Oesterreichische Correxpondenz
under date of July 11. This despatch, received b;• elec-
tric telegraph, states that a conciliatory note from
Reshcid Pacha was expected to bring the negotia-
tions very speedily to a satisfactory conclusion. This
note is understood to embody the scheme of settle-
ment which the ministers of the four powers had
previously suggested. The united fleets were still in
Besika Bay. Commercial affairs in Constantinople
hid assumed a greatly-improved aspect.
- •

A DESPATCH FROM V lENNA, ofthe 21st ult., states that.
the Emperor of Russia has definitively accepted the
mediation of Austria on the basis of the Anglo-French
propositions. The mission of (leneral Count Oiulay
had been completely successful.
JASSY, July 11.—The Russians have concentrated
considerable forces on the Pruth to serve as a re-
serve in ease of war. At the saute time they have
constructed at Leowa a permanent bridge and a mili-
tary road leading into the interior of the country.
THE YOUNG PRINCE OF BEIAM-31, the Duke of Bra-
bant, and Count of Flanders, have been attacked by
the measles, which seems just now to affect most of
the Royal Families in Europe. The course of the
disease is said to be favourable.
THE PRUSSIAN MINISTER OF THE INTERIOR has
just published an order interdicting any rrsons
from emigrating who have not complied with the
conditions of the law relative to serving in the army.
Unless they can give satisfactory proof of their having
done so, no authorisation will be given them to leave
the country.
NUMEROUS POLITICAL. ARRESTS have taken place at
Lille and other parts of France. At Lille the affair
is stated to be of some importance, the arrests being
I.onnected with the secret societies, which are so
numerous, and in many of which an oath has been
taken to assassinate the Emperor.
THE Madrid Gazette of the 16th publishes a Royal
order to the directors of the telegraphs to proceed
immediately to a general survey, with a view to the
establishment of electric telegraphic wires throughout
the kingdom.
THE AUSTRALASIAN COLONIES, according to the latest
advises, continue to prosper abundantly. The yield
of gold was steady, and the average earnings of each
man are quoted at an ounce a day. With regard to
agriculture, the prospects of the farmers were excel-
lent. A discovery of valuable tin ore had been made
in Yictoria. The markets, both at Sydney and Mel-
bourne, were almost bare of goods, and enormous
profits were being realised on some articles of im-
port. The prices of all kinds of merchandise were
rapidly rising, the consumption being enormous.
Men's strong boots were saleable at 200 per cent. on
London prices. Boot and shoe makers were all
easily earning from 3/. 10s. to 4/. a week,
which is considerably more than double the
amount which they could earn in London, and treble
what they would get in Northampton or the other
great manufacturing towns. The colonial revenue
was rapidly increasing. The receipts at the Custom-
house averaged LOOO/. a day for many weeks past.
Much inconvenience had arisen from the scarcity of
copper coin and of small silver money, and the
tradespeople had resorted to a somewhat novel sys-
tem of currency. Pieces of paper called I 0 U's were
substituted by a great many shopkeepers for pennies
and fourpenny pieces, and, instead of lawful money,
were given to their customers as change. The
liability to forgery and repudiation attaching to this
new kind of circulating medium was prodncing great
embarrassment to the public.

A Sinuous ExeLosioN of 6.t' occurred at Bootle, near
Liverpool, on Tuesday, which resulted in the total
destruction of the Sun Inn, the death of one man,
and the infliction of severe injuries on two other per-
sons. The value of the properly destroyed is roughly
estimated at 1,0001.
Tut DI-CHESS OF HAMILTON has publicly avowed
the fact, long suspected, that her grace has united
herself with the Church of Rome. Rumour inti-
mates that the duke will also shortly be declared a
pervert.—Record.