The Express.
London, England, 1852-03-10 00:00:00

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NIGH WATUR AT LONDON BRIDOII.
Ten D4ol—aimftft 41h aIawdr.s.AMMINAS, MM.
1.48.189V.411011111111410 411100..a.alliraida. tn.

LONDON, IVED.VBSDA 7', MARCH 10.

nit extraordinary calamities, material and moral,
to which society has been exposed within the last
ten years--such as the potatne rot and the political
convulsions which ensued throughout Europe—throw
most prominently into relief the advantages that
have arisen from unshackled commerce. No policy,
commercial or other, ever conferred half so many
bonefita on this empire as the freedom successively
given to trade since 1842.1 n order to supply our mar-
ket—opened to the exertions of agriculturists in all parts
of the world—those agriculturists have in many places
much increased their growth of food, and instead of
our now being dependent on the small surplus they
raised beyond their own wants, they have in a great
many places grown corn for our manufacturing pope
lotion who make cottons and cutlery in return. For
all Europe this has been beneficial, and we shudder
as we imagine what would have been the fate of the
starving peasantry of Germany had England, in-
stead of being able to spare them considerable quan-
tities of food (37,168 qrs., and 74,400 cwts. of flour,
to the end of last year, and a good deal since) gone
into the market, as in 1847, *rich competitor for the
paltry surplus of Egypt and Russia—and raised the
general price to nearly double the present quotation.
They, as well as ourselves, must, with a different
policy, have been exposed to the extreme calamities
of fittuine. let this admirable policy,—which has I
almost enabled our old country to keep pace with
the United States, the most prosperous community
that ever existed—a party amongst us, animated
by the most sordid and selfish desires, has
forced itself into office to reverse. Banded toge-
ther for no other avowed object than to gratify
ambition, and nourish a despicable avarice, the pro-
tectionists have made it difficult for others to carry
on the government; and at length, honoured and
rewarded for their obstructive proceedings, as a sorry
necessity they are placed in office, and the public is
daily admonished to submit passively to their rule.
Our present purpose is to direct attention to some of
the commercial consequences,--especially as concerns
the food of the people,—of that policy which Lord
Denny is to substitute for freedom. . _ _

The return, No. 28 of the present session, ordered
by the Rouse of Commons to be printed on Feb. 6,
gives us a list of no lees than fifty-two distinct
countries whence food, grain, meal, or flour, of some
kind or other, not including rice, was imported into
the United Kingdom in 1830. The three great
sources of our supply, in that year, after France—
whence we derived, both in 1830-61, great quan-
tities of food, and in previous years,—were the Rus-
sian ports within the Black Sea, Prussia, and the
United States. Such an official return for 1831
las not yet been published, but we have ascertained
from other sources that the falling off from these three
sources in 1831 has been considerable. Thus from
Odessa there was sent to England in 18.51 only
696,036 chetwerts, against 954,466 chetwerts in
1830; from Konigsberg and Danzig the two prin-
cipal ports of export of Prussia, there was sent an
1831 336,968 quarters, while in 1830 we received
from the whole of Prussia 833,630 quarters ; and we
have received from the United States since last
September 83,411 quarters less than in the
corresponding period of 1830-1. The obvious
and avowed reason for the decline of im-
ports from all these countries was the compara-
tively low price in England. Importation ceased to
pay; it was even followed in many cases :by a
loss, and importation accordingly wase Now, the
average price of wheat in 18.50 was 40a. 3d., and in
1831 38e. 7d., a difference of only Is. fld., and that
difference sufficed to curtail our supplies to the great
degree of which we have just given specimens from
some of the chief sources. _ _ _

Lord DEBBY is reported to have said that it is
o:wording :to the amount, or quantity, of foreign
produce excluded by a fixed duty that the supply is
diminished and the price enhanced. But the pro-
testiocista propose to levy a duty at least tour
Buss or five times as large Si the reduction
of rim which kept such large quantities (rein our
meakeb bet year. A fixed duty, which actually
pportion of the wheat for the government,
to prevent imports exactly like a reduction
SnThere is only a certain quantity of manu-
ikasounodities to be given for food, or their
semesentatim, so much money: and if the govern-
mat, by taking to itself a perdm of the food, or
keying a fixed duty on it, wNek is equivalent, raises
it uttidelese emirs perehming pewee
:ILirk.emeneibelneed o amianie m-
Martead impedes esemeree to a greater West
s ampiete igeseame the 'overwound an
efieshie. If lard DERBY mamba the eats of belied
mid amide% sr the ailing*, Wert= Waheft price
bore sad millatprice Areal, hewill Isom thatelikinda
daub m well as the earn beds are afters with •
mg imargin,—that the petite are way low, and
them the eemiedes will Maw that a axed d ea
grebe et le. at 7a, midge tits price at 1
SAISPOL,:sky- is Mame
AM
isd of belle, eml a the seleamy lie
!miaow edam* half the traders of the maples Tie
the aid median of things, mast the ems kw, tab
had restricted itself; it hes now ex-
or is expanding, to the sew conditions of
(--and to force it beak wall lie a kind of
Madam like squeezing up the het el all the women
of bighead to the Climes. pose..
Fee eamnple, it is dated in the paper No. 28
slime rained to, that he seek plasm u Wallachia,
the empires for 1840 were 294,6041.
against 218,6771. in 1 exam of 76,027 L, and
to Egypt the exports were, in 1840,818,8111. against
838,4114 mod in 1819--an mem of 10,4301. i and we
know, though we hem net yet sem the cads' re-
turns, that die quantity of geed to
istrortedezigaypt
in 1831 meth exceeded theen
18.10. Mime are only apesissem et the new trate
whisk is everywhere stewing wend eatemile. with
721 is Imtesteenee fir Nudes of trade,
=be masked tam, and subsequently
simihnitat by a teed duty ea corn.
Lod DONT, mire know doll, is well acquainted
with )(suably end mak thembre, be aware that the
differeeee if a trw *Wimp par chetwert at Odessa
induces the imelea maim to employ more or less of
their
voLgrain their own estates. It is the same in
whim, is corn is &am a dear, the 16,000
Mb that are at work ea the Mae nt farms or estates
ere not te work or kept quiet. The thing works
la the wane way in the United States, where the
flemive hurry their grain to market, or employ it in
faUsaisa pips or for distilled's, as the Prue varies
aMs eats. per herbal at New York. A Sied duty
of 4s. or le. maid most preboWy keep out of the
coustry threedenethe or feu -Mae if the grain now
impaled; end, by duateniag die out, roles es
erhaps
to whate--eftos the sejoymeet of &Mime—would
be • woriamiag height, the prise et hod at home.
It is supposed diet mash a min weal& pot aim mallet=
WWII into the pockets of the fteetra and land-
After the list year or two it would have no
mesh Abet t it would mealy stile se mask trade, im-
poverish so many marehants mad eneanketurers,
Marring down the peopiee—would thrust them,
as formerly, through sines of huger, dis-
content, riot, and ineamesders, nearly bale east a
number ma would be isaniehmtlp ihd by the mein
of our own soil, and make a ominous min of tide sow
flourishing empire. Yet, with seek Made saes-
quences staring us in the face, ea certain to ensue
as blood is to flow when the flesh is wounded, we
are entreated to let these protectionist ministers
dabble with the national welfare, and allow them to
use all the power of the government, established only
for good, to work, if they possibly can, this enor-
mous mischief. We are supplicated to enthrone the
principle of evil, and allow it to secure itself in its
high place by falsehood, corruption, and fraud.

YEBrERD & parliamentary rettir&o:mr&lelabla
which affords sumo interesting inf natr nbr
tiv• to savings banks. The return gives the MEW
bee of do ton and the amount of the deposits in
thee, banks up to the close of the year IMO. It is
smother evidence of the bireeinge of free-trade that

I the poorer Glasses of the
bat
are not only able to
enjoy increased comforts bat ma able to MO mcge
money.
At the end of 1848, the number Individual 40-.
on
in savings.banks i,.i1111111911
of 1860 it had risen to 1
THOUSAND additional • hapi .tho:l;44lNded
during the last two years to Ile somber &those.
who are able to put by ; so that if savings banks
may be taken, as we are sure they may be, as indica-
tions and tests of the progress of the people, here is
an important proof to add to the many already accu-
mulated of the advantage the free-trade system has
secured to oar population.
The money eposited by individual depositors in
savings banks at the end of 1848 was 28,232,8801.
At the end of 18.10 this amount hail increased to
27,198,5831., or within very little of a million. And
it is most satisfactory to observe, that by far the
larger proportion of this increase was in deposits of
trifling amounts. The following comparative table
shows that the portion of tho population who aro
able to lay by. the smallest sums aro those whose
deposits have increased the most since free-trade
became the law of the land.
Dere/tont
1848. 1850. Increase. Nereus.
Lees than 201 636,430 677,969 41,639 ..
„ 240,663 2.51,131 10,448
1001 102,033 106,510 4,177
„ 150/ 31,644 36,609 965
18,639 18,914 376 ..
Exceeding 2001. 2,617 2,448 ..

1,034,940 1,092,681 62,191

So much as to this return in so far as it exhibits
the satisfactory condition and progress of the people.
Looking at it in another point of new, we regret to
say that it appears to exlubit no improvement in the
system upon which the National Debt Commissioners
proceed in their dealings
.with the public money.
Despite the present very high price of Consols, there
is still a deficiency of upwards of a million and a half
in the savings bank fund. The amount of money
due by the Commissioners to the trustees of savings
banks was, on the 20th Nov. 1850, 31,406,5431. To
meet this amount they had the following meta :

Securities valued sit
Cash uninvested 60,099

2%721,944

Leaving a deficiency of £1,681,601
Whenever the funds may chance to fall,—as they
are very like to do with the present government in
power,—the value of the securities will fall too, and wo
shall have a heavy addition to the deficiency. This is
an kgreeable reflection for the tax-payer who has to
make up the money : and still more so when he con-
siders that such deficiency arises from no fault
of his own, but simply from the mismanagement of
those who, in past years, have 'lnd the control of
this fund, and who have played ducks and drakes with
the savings' bank, money in order to prove themselves
excellent financieis.

Agitationhydrationof the unprincipled wayln which
our rulers have gone to work, and of the very little
taA they have paid to the public pocket, is,
afforded by this Tay return. Tho public
will remember that niimerable bill introduced by Sir
CHARLits WooD in series 1860, in which he pro-
p:wed to cut down the MIMI en savings bank de-
posits, and to make the Insteas responsible for all
the knees he, or succeeds" Iffational Debt Commis-
sioners, might entail mem them At the time that
bill was introduced nething amid be more flourish-
ing than the state of the wings banks. Every
Masse day, sad semetimeo every succeeding day,
the government beast wee going upon 'Change,
and login SAIL meth of Re6md Three per
Cants ea alma et the whip beaks fund. All
thrsegit the month et Imeney be nada them pur-
dome, sad so on through theZrert etFebreszy—
SAM et stock wee it
emi shied to the
emmidee held oa seseent at swigs
_hake by the
semminiesers. parliament bed seercely met ,
ilbsn it became known that Sir CHARM WooD in-
tended to meddle with the savings baths. What i
was the instant consequeroe P A oeunden of de-
posits ! Up to tho 11th and 12th of February, 1830,
no Ise tha=mariday was invested in the funds :
(netball& the investments were suddenly
11=• OA the Ist of February 30,0001. worth
11111160 d to be sold : on the 4th of March
It/1001. wmlh mom and so on every week up to
Jul,, when it btellams understood that the govern-
ment bell we. vistimily beaten. It was not until
cll=itutleingsmegned and the Cu4Nce.t.tott of
gene to Halifax, that the savings
emeeneei their previous vigour. In August,
knew^ iseedisset was restored ; and from that time
IS be el et the year 1860, the purchases of stock
• Meant et savings banks went on at an Menne-
zpseante-
ed to the new Savings Banks Return is an
account of the annuities granted under the powers
given to savings banks by the acts 3 WK. IV., and
7 and 8 Vicr. eh. 83. We regret to say that this
branch of the operations of savings banks appears u
menceeriful as ever. In sixteen yeas the number
at lib annuities granted by all the aviep banks of
Grant Britain has only been 6,779. The mount of
the annuities now annually payable is 1111,546 L But
to meet this sum the annual revenue delimit& from
the capital invested is only 48,6881.! So that the
nation is annually loaing66,767Lbythispetoperation.
Women told some years ago that be annuity brand
woad right itself—that as lives lldl is =thZ
weld leek well, and the nation wield
pelginniy. Ws regret to lay we me ao slims et
giefficted event at gem*, When we hat had
the swings beaks assents Mee a& now sonswitat
lees than two comeLago, the meat los apes the
imanitim vim 1281. It is fair 116,7371.,
of 1041.811 addi Ike is Ms quite raft
moist Ohm. A haw nr met the savings banks
have mild themselves of lito johns ited ibis
by 7 sail II Tem to pest beeellele delbeei
annuities he hems of yams. Tres the wapitis,
of the epea4o this weal be a ameillandi at
lmsima- We einervo Met only 11411 at sash Mind-
de bore Itess=irlat area upon these there is a
Ins at MIL • he whilst 4621/. is annually
teb illemoulleolkeehg 1411171. accrues hem
e maw& of She savings beak
INA hes to sake ap the s wed seeelly
awes the asthma debt endsir
aliens try te inks the pablio believe that these
Lees are sat hose at Mk but that the annuity
immit is iheihilis, mil that it is " the high rate
et blemet ea bona " that is the cause of the
delielonsise oak mimmiagement occasion&
A "antheeidee" have, it is reported, bees
=
et lately at the idea of catching a .4 green
the Exchequer.' Upon the strength
of Mr. DISRAELI'S accession to office there
is quite a stir : the Comptroller-General pro-
duces long-delayed returns, and " her lia-
na's's Registrar-General of Friendly. Societies"
alteletters to the people in obscure
lttful periodicals. But wo are mistaken in
111 b. BRESAIIIN DISRAELI, if he is limed quite
se matilly. He will, we rasped, avoid the snares
whisk Sir CHARLES WOOD fell into bodily. He
will not run his head against the savings banks with
quite so entire a conviction that he shall not
Idamage himself; nor vote away thousands a year in
salaries with quite so much carelessness es to whom