The Express.
London, England, 1849-11-15 00:00:00

badly-fed, woes,
tiaties as that '

inquirise, undsitakee,
Poo 4& Commielioa--the

ment of mows I

M the
die
tonildsz
arty sear '
adasshaip _
realybiglid ik.
PadheilleeselieTiftii iiiiiiiiisitiiii
za do weak( :;=:614.
vialeallei
hon. ia. a Ode atm**
implom
• slated thst is Wiltshiro, Derail**. alidt=uf
• the wages of goeseden Jim
ilmia 7s: tole, pest mai dot iith—e-laWie
any south-weston the seals of Woe is
Bids higher, the low cesditioa of Nib Al-
bums sad be nianihst. And even wane lima
the low price of labour is the
tafillel=4.ll. which bese's the mere =Mall
So again, the scanty cottage
maisliss which prevails throughout the.
trots is most obvious, and the discondent, Igen-
mint, and demoralisation which result few the over-
erfldl of the dwelling of the poor have hew
y twolght under the tootles of the public.
..si7r the great %nestles is, bow are thus things is
tiewreuried ? It is of little use to fix attention an-
ion the complaints or the actual miseries of
AN peasantry of these mantis.. Nor is it of much
Sams use teiesectnin one landed prwietor as caes-
ium arid indiilerent about the oontian of the cot-
isles on Idatillite, or to cry up another as the lone-
USN* WO* of commodious labourers' houses.
Thadellideginiral causes in operation which iojuri•
ay affeettlis rural labourers, and belong to the
melded st the economical condition of the land.
to investigate this subject requires discrimi-
satin, practical sequintanco with husbandry, and
heist from prejudice on the part of the
isgdrer. It is not enough to inspect the
bumble and too often wretched dwellings of the
fuming labourers, or to listen to their just, but some-
timesbMlM:O, oomplaints; the eusametances of
their e the farmer, and the tams on which
they farms, most of nesessity farm an es-
sential part of any useful inquiry into the state of the
peasantry. And that again mast be followed oat by
an examination of the state of the landed property
and the, position of the landed proprietors of the loca-
lity. The social history of the dtetrict, so far as re-
lates to the labourers, must also be especially re-
garded.
For instance, where are wages so low and the cot-
tages of the agricultural labourers so deficient and
defective u in Wiltshire and Dorsetahire P Both
these evils have been ceased. in a µrest measure, by
the long prevalence of the allowance system, which
was scarcely anywhere so universal or so injurious as
in these two counties. For years low wages were
paid, and an allowance made to married labourers for
each of their children. The men with families, tape.
ciallf7those with large families, we most constantly
empallowances
ed, at sums, wages, and together
—of 3s. to lbs. a week, while single men, se good,
perhaps better, workmen, could only obtain
the pittance of 41., 35., or 6s. a week.
Of course the result was, there were few
unmarried labourers above twenty years of age in
these districts. Before the alteration of the poor law,
we recollect to have seen a mere boy come before the
magistrates for an allowance as a married pauper ;
his Other attended to "speak" for him, and sated
that "he was nearly mini teen and had a wife and
two children." Such improvident marriages, which
formed the rule among the rural population of Wilts
and Dorset, necessarily produced a redundant labour-
ing population. Wages thus became reduced, while
the men themselves became listless and inert; for it
is • notoi ions fact, that where such low wages prevail,
labour is inv riably of an inferior quality. Before
the allowance system commenced, the farming men
were not only more regularly employed, but they
were continually employed in piece work, by which,
with extra exertion, they could earn additional wages.
Neither have thi habits which the allowance system
engendered been eradicated. The same cause
which produced a redundancy of labourers, rendered
the cottages deficient. At instead of cottages in-
creasing, they have actually decreased in all rural
parishes where the land was possessed by
• few owners. Landowners always pulled down
cottages wherever it was poisible to do so to prevent
libation gritting setilemrnre in the parish. The
labourers were thus driven jet* villages, and into
cottages held by small speculators in such property.
Passing from the situation of the labourers, what is
the position of farmers in the two counties we have
referred ta? In both counties the farms are of two

de•ariptions—the large hill and light land farms,
cousin ng chiefly of tillage and down land, and the
dairy farms, cowisting almost entire ly of grass land.
On the d.iry farms very little labour is employed ;
sad on the stable farms in three counties the
system of cultivation, as compared with that of the
eastern counties, is a low one. The farmers are fre-
quently opulent men, bat they hold great tracts of
lend which would require the investment of very
large capitals to cultivate in the best manner.
They have never, in fact, departed much
from the mode of farming, which answered
well enough daring the high prices which
prevailed during the war, bat which is decidedly pre-
carious, and often unprofitable at present. Treir
matt m is to cultivate moderately well a large sur-
face ; and it is one which, of all others, affords least
employment to the labourer& Net a few of the more
intelligent IVilishire and Dorsetshin farmers are fully
aware that a higher mode of farming would, in these
times, be more profitable ; but to such a change there
are two obstacles—first, the great size of the farms,
which, under high culture, would require double or
treble the capital at present employed; and,secoodly,
the deficiency of farm buildings. It may be said, why
do not the landlords improve the buildings and di-
minish the size of their fame ? The answer is, they
have not the means. Their estates are settled in strict
entail,and coosequently they cannot adopt the obvious
and rational plan of selling a portion of the estate to
furnish means fee the improvement of the remainder.
Next, they are generally much mortgaged, and a
mertgaga proprietor never improves. His margin
of income is always too narrow to enable him to spare
anything for adding to the fixed capital of his estate ;
on the oratory, present income is usually all in all
to him, so that h• would wirer throw two farms to-
gether, in order to save repairing two sets of build-
ings, than expend money in erecting new or improv-
ing the old farm-buildings on bis estate. Such are a
few of the topics to which regard must be had, before
one can come to anything like a fair estimate of the
=t of Improving the condition of the rural
o It is, however, a subject of vast impot-
ence, to which we shall have span occasion to advert
mo:e is detail.

MOTHS' INCENDIARY FIRE.—On saaday night,
about 11 o'clock. • fire broke net in the barn of Mr. Wat.
Nieman, of Mucky, star Newmarket. The villagers
having retired to rest, it was with much difficulty that they
were stowed, and the fames rapidly extended to a sart-
ledge, strawkonm, and (towhees', end also to a stack of geed
clover, one of beatify, two of stover. end a large rick of
etre*, ell of which Were destroyed. The stackyard of the
Rev. Toes. Berrouthee was only divided trom Mr. Nee-
gess's by a low wall, bat by the active emeetkins of the
people Ids stacks were preserved, se was also his granary at
am maid Mr. Norman's born, being of stone and data. At
the eau mid of the hue, widish was filled with emrs, was a
laths risk whisk, being corned with blankets, sad men
pouring water upon ie, the feats were prevented from ea.
tending to • nate of thatched cottages belonging to Mr.
Whim, seetabliag thirty-seven lanais., slims% • stable
rdjulaisg te them caught Are from the flying ember", bat
It was promptly sztiarairked by • mums* putting
• man up on the r of. The tailor and diatom of the put
cottager% with their geode turned out into the road, end is
rooeseatuy ezpeetstion of their dwellings bursting into a
bless, might hers nsor d the heart of any one bat the
wick d amber of the sei-chief. The tool-houses sad
ries of Mr. Burr.ught a were burnt, with a quantity :IC
;dements, and Mr Norinao's dwelling•house, whisk wee
very near three buildings, was only by great exertions pre-
served. The live ato k was all released sus pt ample ••• a
few fowls; but • waggon, two tumbrils, and a
mashies were de.troyed in the ear ledge. It wee netlt&
five o'dock on kiiii day clowning that the fire was get oder,
the only supply of watar bulag from • very deep well, and by
water ears hum ponds at a distaste*. The polies were rosy
active and useful ; and too awash cannot be mid is resift of
' the ern4net of the Winer's( class, of both seen, is Meg
their merest to save the property elall. The attire ell do
eltaholical di led is • mystery, Mr. Norman Wing comae the
kindest of masters, pit his knessateed was wantonly grad
cloy to the dwAllng in whisk Warw okapis, masonsiono
of his danger. Had it born • windy night halftime Allipe
would probably have been derr,TetreaAll the proprelly,_
51:othat of the cottaysiotinia, is

THE EXP:

gaol MouncElio.4-41.41161=1".
Warmed at g ado% :andto.tZ2
Mr. MiiiklmiL6llllldodti gaud ea feat due.
Fe% sem a well-known bridle path to
W . Al be did net return at
a party went out in pursuit of
hins."6"7lly found his trail, sad followed it a whole
jay, picking op by the way a portion of his clothes.
next day they discovered his anew, almost en-
tirely divested of clothing, some of which was found
in a hole in a brook. His body was badly bruised,
and it is believed that he lost his way and became
bow. Every attention was shown to his remains,
and mud sympathy was felt at his unhappy fate.
One of the most striking changes which I have
noticed with regard to our oommerce is the rapid in-
mese of sea stamen in oar eouttag trade. We
sena, at last, to have formed pretty just conceptions
of what an ocean steamer should be. And we now
have sailing from this port to Charleston, Savannah,
New Orleans, and Chores as fine reseals ast ever
floated. Besides being good models and fast
sailers, they are elegantly fitted up, and
DO expense km been spared to make them ece-
venient. Their interiors are far more elegant than
those of any other steamers afloat. I have the
pleasure of an acquaintance with a French engineer
recently come to the United States to pursue his he-
fusion. He was connected with the Paris and Stour
burg Railway, and was educated with care by hie
father, who was a colonel in the French army. He
says that nothing struck him so forcibly on hie arrival
in New York as our river steamers. Their size, their
power, their speed, and their accommodations asto-
nished him. There is nothing like them, he says, in
Europe. Some of these mule have private ;odours
'minuted with sleeping apartments, fitted with costly
furniture, and far surpassing in elegance moat pri-
vate residences. The fare is quite moderate, and pt r-
sons of ordtnary means are their usual occupants. It
cannot be denied that there is a general tendency to
expensive habits in this country, which our steamers
and hotels are calculated to strengthen. Indeed, hotel
life is a favourite one here, since, for a comparatively
small outlay, very beautiful apartments and sump-
tuous living are attainable.
- -

Our Oesiirt steamers are all adoptiog this style of
decoration, and of catering for the accommodation of

Emigration to this port continues. The following
calculation and statement have been made in relation
to this subject :

Duriog the Ms years from April, 1844, to April, 1850, ow
males that the minis for the remainder of the prsent
year will be is a like ratio with the past, there will bane
pulsed quarantine, at this port, the large number of 1,151,500
emisruits :

Arrl4o9 from April,' 1644 to AprO, 1845 118,000
180,000
160,000
196,0r0
247,500
1649 to 0et.21, 1849
Oct. 21, 1849 to April 1830 (est'd) 123,409

AMERICUS.

Total 1,151,600
It would be strange if the United States should be-
amse a great manufacturing &swell as an agricultural
igloo. Yet such seems to be " its destiny." Our
memberless waterfalls, our exhaustless coal bed., fur-
nish power equal to any demand, r,r any possibility
of demand, for our manufactures. It is not in our
sauce to resist these natural advantages. Should we
ever enter into competition with England upon a very
extensive scale, no one oin predict what will be the
result. The balance of power, which our enormous
increase of population, and our large products will
inevitably bring westward, may change the poise of
the great globe we inhabit. And even with the
mete adjunct of emigrati x, and the conviction fast
spreading over Europe that America is the only
gauntry where men may live X comfort and tranquil-
lity, we are making a g:gantio stretch to national pre-
eminence. Is the day at hand when the glory of
Eoeland shall pale before the effulgence of a western
empire ? Let not the thought disturb any English-
man; for here, if it prove so, will he live spin in the
language, laws, and manners of his own kin ; his
blood will flow in the channels of his descendants, and
his fame be for ever banded down to his poeternies.
How deeply I regret tLe petty differences which oc-
casionally disturb our national friendships.. Let them
pas away under the conviction that we are indeed
bet one race—one family of men.
Among the most stirring news of the day is the
late of M. Melia% the Russian minister. This gen-
tians°, without much talent, yet with • great deal
ef tact, has been for many years the representative of
the czar in this country. He has always taken pains
to assume a particularly friendly bearing towards the
United States, and has managed to produce the im-
pression that his mister would always be ready to co-
operate with us in ease of a war with any European
power. Indeed at one time, when the north-western
boundary brought us to the verge of a rupture with
England, it was understood at Washington that the
Russian navy would be at our service to arry on the
cenflict. M. Bodine was therefore quits a &meta
with the administrations at Washington, and when he
married a beautiful young woman of Georgetown, bb
American tastes we re universally admitted. He lived hi
very hand- ome style in the district of Columbia. Hie
house when I last visited him, was filled with objects
at virtu and an unusual quantity of gold and silver
plate. Not long since he received a mandate from the
Emperor to repair to St. Petersburg, and to bay
with him his secretary, his reputed nephew, me the
assurance that business of importance required the
envoy's presence, and that promotion awaited the
nephew in the army. It now appears that as soon u
they reached their own country M. Bodieco was
seized and sent off to Siberia, and the nephew was
thrown into prison. The excuse of this procedure is
said to be the emperor's displeasure at M. Bodisco's
having accumulated a large fortune in this country,
and invested in American securities, to the extent of

100,0001. sterling. This bas led 'the emperor to
Sinslthat he was no longer a trustworthy envoy,
etrat his interests would taint his diplomacy. The
public feeling is mach aroused by this piece of in-
telligence. V. Nile perhaps the Raman automat might
have very properly recalled him he has no excuse
for an act of barbarism. This affair occurs at the
very moment when we expect to see France and Eng-
land allied in the protection of Turkey, and the eon-
sequence is, that if our vanity has been heretofore
flattered by the civilities of the Emperor, our disgust
has succeeded to it so intensely, that we are in favour
of your thrashing him just as much as you like. So
we particularly beg Lord Palmerston to have no re-
luctance in doing so on our account.
Adrian have been received from a party of over-
land emigrants on their way to California, that they
have found on the Gila river indications of gold to a
degree quite unsurpassed even on the Sacramento.
This ides of gold on the Gila has been some time
popular, and the reports of occasional travellers have
strengihenid it. For my part, I see no reason to
doubt that the whole western slope of the mountains
in North and South America, from Behring's Straits
to those of Magellan, contain gold, more or less in
quantity, as certain species of formations develop
tremselves, in their own disorderly shapes, projected
by volcanic action from their original conformity. I
do not doubt that all the rivers and their alluvial@i
from California down to the is hmus, will betho-
roughly explored in the course of a few years, and
this will be done by large bodies of men, separated
into countless exploring parties. We can easily
imagine what a state of things this will produce :
California will be but an outpost of the great army of
adventurers.

TRADE WITH AFRICA.—The Liverpool Courier
states that it Is is contemplation by some merobants in that
lowa to form an African Company, with • capital of
100,0001., in 4.000 shares of SOL each. The following is from
the programme " Deposit 10e. per share. Liablity to ex-
teed only to amount of %bares. No dividend to be made
until • reserve fund of 60,0001. has been accumulated. A
' tall of 101. per than to be made ea soon as the committee
are formad ; and • farther call of 101. to be made in three
=Paths afterwar Is, a rail of 101. in nine months, end the
remainder as the committee may appoint as requisite or re-
quired. Tuba under a committee of msnesement of Res
individuals, to be selected from the iharebeld-n. Opera-
tions to common when 1,000 shares are subscribed for,"

'mg" "had' and still WM. 1")"111- Bt*- FOREIGN CORBBSPONDENCE.
tat point are warmly mitireL &Wry
%-.—i— ,
adertakse, directly or iaiKetip ~,,,, . , . ,
, . A , Talti, *44.
nesatitsion—the usqui .I .
,i ' . 1, w `,' in.... I
tam and children in km ~ .., 1 the - • - 1 1777 .- --"' •
=onecondition et the _,_, ,
.g.. 4,4. . aet i
sop .
Jo i
..
instituted re:
V ` • • t .., .N. y., per, It
4 the mean
ranicepow. .."-
no told es some el the ' ' midi the
I We. The feet is established - to mite liteseent la pany with a
_.
that 'a the Hindi sad yids Whew they mead a.. piece .
I Peeithlie, risrr.Yrimill' 's. -, ~...i 1........• DlAmmast• Ida fmwas wainanastiorta 1.••••••••