The Express.
London, England, 1847-10-14 00:00:00

THE EXPRESS, THURSDAY EVENING, OCTOBER 14, 1847.

any such locality, or for any purpose whatever. The tract i
of country I pointed out to the Manchester Chamber of
Commerce as peculiarly adapted for the growth of cotton )'y
means of European free labour—referring particularly at
the time to my recently published work on the subject, 1
en-
titled " Cookaland, in North-Eastern Australia, the future'
Cotton-field of Gnat Britain "—is the country intervening'
between the 30th parallel of south latitude and the Tropieof
Capricorn ; or, more properly, the country between the 30th
and 26th parallels of south latitude: for I took particular':
care to state, both in my book and in my address to the
Chamber of• Commerce here, that the country to the north-
ward of 26 deg. south, in Eaatern Australia, is as yet un-
explored. Now, this tract of country—l mean the tract par-
ticularly described in my book lying between the 30th and
26th parallels of latitude—neither Mr. Jukes nor Mr.
Davidson ever saw, or know anything of. Of the fitness of
this tract, therefore, either fur cotton cultivation or for
European colonisation, neither of these gentlemen is able to
form an opinion from his own personal knowledge ; and, In
objecting to my proposal, as they have both done, on very
different grounds certainly, they are both under a palpable
mistake. Any person who reads my book will find, from
the evidence of persons of all classes, as well as from the
geological and geographical features of the country itself,
that the tract referred to is one of the roost splendid fields
for colonisation that Great Britain hasever colonised; and as
to its adaptation to the constitution of Europeans, the work
referred to contains the most satisfactory testimony on the
subject from medical men of respectable standing and long
experience in the country, as well as from respectable colo-
nists of various other classes.

In your own notice of my book, in yesterday's paper, I
observe you also express doubts as to the practicability of
transforming our conarrymen in Australia into cotton.
growers, on a somewhat different ground from that taken op
either by Mr. Jukes or by Mr. Davidson. The passage
refer to is as follows :
Dr. Lang desires to carry on the cultivation of both cotton and
sugar by means of an extended emigration from the mother country.
and se to strike a deadly blow at the slavery of Amman and the
Brazils. But we are not sure that this to practicable, or that the
Saxon raw would settle down to thin unusual labour, while riches
await them in the wad freedom of the squatter's life. But Maley and
other free labour, front the isLands to the north of New Holland,
might be had in abundance fur the fetching ; and the subject certainly
demands, aid would repay, instant attention.
Now I admit that for some time at least gentlemen of
birth and education, going out, as so many of that clam have
' done already, with a capital of not less than 1,0001. each, to
make their fortunes in Australia, are likely enough to pre-
fer the squatting system to cultivation of any kind. But
there is another and much more numerous elms of our
countrymea in the Australian colonies-1 mean the class of
servants or labourers for these gentlemen squatters—farm-
servants, shepherds, and stockmen. And so very little predi-
lection have this inferior class, generally, for the squatting
life, that if there were any reasonable prospect held out to
them of evenivally becoming small proprietors, by culti-
vating either cotton, or anything else that would afford them
a comfortable subsistence on their own account, three-fourths
of them, nay, I may safely say nine-tenths of them, would
gladly and at once forego all the semi-barbarous delights of
squatting, for the more rational and civilised pleasures and
advantages of an agricultural life. The Saxon race are
essentially a social race, fond of living together in society,
under the restraints of i ow and in the enjoyment of the ad-
vantages of government, rather than in the semi-savage con-
dition of wild bushmen. And of all existing races on the
face of the earth, they are the last to remain contentedly in
the condition of servants to any master or employer, even at
251. a year and rations (the usual wages of an Australian
shepherd or bushman) if they can only settle down on land
on their own account, especially with the prospect of be-
coming proprietors, and grow anything that will sell. In
short, so little reason is there to fear that our countrymen of
the bumbler classes in Australia will prefer squatting to
cotton growing, that I (.3,1 perfectly confident that as soon
as it comes to be known that people of these classes can grow
cotton profitably for the home market on their own account,
it will be very difficult to get them to " go a sheep-herd-
ing," as they call it, on any terms. There is a strong
prejudice against that sort of life on the part of the better
classes of the humbler colonists already, partly because of the
solitude to which it confines them, and partly because of its
barbarising effect.; and the necessary consequence of the
opening of a new and profitable field of agricultural labour
in the growth of cotton and other tropical produce by Euro-
pean free labour will, in all likelihood, augment this preju-
dice very considerably, and raise the price of that description
of labour to the squatters to an unprecedented degree, unless
there should in the meantime be a greatly increased emigra-
tion. In short, if there is any one principle stronger than
another in the Saxon race, it is the desire to become a pro-
prietor of land, and to be on one's own hand in the world.
Now, the squatting sy-tem. as hitherto pursued in Australia,
holds out no encouragement of this kind. It creates merely
nabobs and serfs. But cotton cultivation will necesearilv
transform the humblest cultivator into a proprietor of land
from the very first, and, in all likelihood, make the indus-
trious family, possessed of only a few acres of land, to raise as
many bales of cotton, as the wealthy squatter, who has half a
county to roam over with his flocks, can raise bales of wool,
while the one will be nearly as valuable as the other.
In regard to the subject of steam navigation to Australia,
I quite agree with Mr. Juke. in preferring Cape York as a
station for a steamer from Singapore to Sydney, to Port
Essington. The latter settlement is out of the way, and hat
proved very unhealthy on the one hand, and a great failure
as an emporium of trade on the other. Besides, it is of little
use, in the event of shipwrecks in Torres Straits, being too
far to the westward. A settlement anywhere near Cape
York would, is such eases, which are unfortunately of fre-
quent occurrence, be of incomparably greater value, besides
being in the direct route of wavigation.
There is another coaling place, however, nearer Syd-
ney, which it would he desirable, for various reasons, to
form a station at, in add hien to the one at Cape York. I
mean the northern extremity of Moreton Bay, about 500
miles north of Sydney. The outward-bound steamer from
Singapore could there get coals both for the voyage to Sydney
and back, and it would be worth her while to touch there,
beside., both for letters and passengers to and fro. It is
quite in the track, and will soon be both populous and im-
portant,—Jolla DuN atone LANG. Manchester, Sept. 22.

The prayer is that the importation of those artich •be re- '
moved, and that perliament should aid any measures the
ministers may introduce to open the foreign markets to linen
yarns end fabrics, and to machinery.
Mr. Feaneson seconded the adoption of this petition.
Col. Dustx,e, M.P., objected to so much of the petition
as prayed the remission of the duty on timber, as, he said,
theme' of timber gave a largo share of employment. He
argued that they ought to have the power of drawing the
manufactures they needed from other cauntries. At pre-
sent, they had free trade when it was against them, and no
free trade when it was in favour of them. He would not
propose any amendment. The petition therefore passed.
Mr. CARRY rem to propose the following resolution, pre-
mising that they denoted to facilitate in the fullest and
amplest manner the purposes of the meeting called
by another requisition. Mr. Carey bore testimony to
the dspoilition of his Excellency Lord Clarendon to consult
the good of Ireland.
llesslvesk—That this council having taken upon themselves the re-
aponsibility of convening a meeting of peers and COMIIIOMII early in
November, and luring earnestly recommended a speedy assemblage
of the legislature, deem it due to the country and the government
to give an outline of the matters which they conceive are of such '
primary importance as to require the mature deliberation of the first
and ray action on the part of the country. That the only
means now available for the support of the people being pri-
vate employment or pew eaten, It should be strictly Investigated
whether tie Se of themselves ere aunt dent for the porpoise :
whether the existing laws are such as adequately stimulate
the first, and equitably distribute the taxation under the second.
• That it should be woe/tiered in what manner public employment
(Mould such be necessary) can be given so as to secure the support of
the poor with the greatest advantage to the country. That it will be
the duty of such s meeting to take into consideration the law of Isnd-
lord and tenant, in the hope of such an adirtment of the question as
may induce mutual confidence, gad encountre employment anti the
outlay of capital by both parties ; calmly to deliberate on the terms
on which loans were advanced to this 00111MV, with a view of pro-
posing torch means of /eminent as will meet with the most
prompt actlitiemence, wit iut detriment to any clans ; to
• examine whether facilitating the transfer of property In
Ireland would not tend to the introduction o/ capital and
to the improvement of the country generally, without in-
terfering with existing interests. That all their deliberations and re-
solutions should tend to the most &nimble end, the assistance by all
parties in Riving emploiment, impressing on the legislature the w-
earily of aiding, by relief from undue taxation, those who are now
bearing more than their equitable dime of the burden, so rot to throw
the onus of supporting the able-bodied poor more upon those by
whore neglect they ate unemployed and of encouraging the intro-
duction and expenditure of capital by coming to • determination to
uphold the lowa for the protection Oh& and property.
Mr. Lesue Fostett seconded the resolution. After re-
ferring to the prospects of the country he mentioned a sug-
gestion of Mr. Buchanan, member of the parliament of
CAIIIIIII, recommending that debentures be issued, bearing
31 per cent. interest, which should represent every sum of
MI. expended on the improvement of land. He thought
there was enough capital in the country to be placed out on
such investments. He expressed a hope that his friend Mr.
John O'Connell would amalgamate the two meetings of
members, ant have both work together.
Colonel Or sv r, M.P., objected to the meeting called by
Mr. John O'Connell's friends, on account of the introduction

of repeal as a matter for discussion in the assemblage of
members, and said he could state it was the introduction of
that topic which prevented more signatures front being at-
tached to the requisition.
Mr. °rattan, Mr. M'Clee, Mr. Fitzgibbon, ant other gen-
tlemen siddreved the council; the latter was speaking at
poet hour. The resolution they do not oppose, and it will he
adopted.

MEETING OF MAGISTRATES IN TIPPERARY.

The reply of the Lord-Lieutenant to the memorial ofthe
Tipperary magistrates is as follows :
Dublin Castle, Oct. 9.
My Lord, —I bare not failed to ley before hie excellency the load.
lieutenant the inemorial egreed to at a meeting of the magistrates of
the comity of Tipperary, held at Canted, which accompanied the letter
which your lordship did me the honour to address to me on the 7th
natant. The dial-lieutenant has learned with sincere and deep re-
gret the atrocious aseaseination of Mr. W. Hoe. Ile desires to ex-
prem his opinion that the magistrates of the county of Tipperary
have performed both an act of justice and a public service by neer&
Mg their testimony of tha gentleman's character and con-
duct. From their own personal knowledge. and on the spot where
the eoeuracy of their statements must be well known, and can
be tested, they have declared that Mr. Roe was an upright
magistrate, a tried landlord, charitable to the poor, amt liberal in pro-
viding employment far the people on his property ; that doting the
late period of distress, he gratuitously distributed food from kis own
house, and that his sisters were attacked by fever whilet miniatering
to the wants of the poor. The puhtication of these facts will not only,
prove that society has sustained a severe toes by the death of Mr. Roe,
but also, that no failure of duty on his part ma be assigned as the
imm which led to his barbarous asaaasination, should the supposed
motive of this murder turn out to be the true one, it will at the came
time be evident that Mr. Rue exercised his rights with extreme mode-
ration, and that no landlord, unless prepared altogether to surrender
his property, could submit to have Ma land held by a
tenant who would neither pay rent for it, nor cultivate it, nor give
It sup. The internee of landlord and tenant, rigbdy under.
*tome on identical; their obligations are reciprocal, u id those who
reek to disunite the two classes are enemies of both. On the part of
Mr. Roe, the obligations of landlord appear to have been faithfully
performed on the par tof histenant, they appear to have been groady
violated; and whatever may be the attempts to mislead tenant+ as to
their own right or the conductor their landlords, the people of Ireland
are to intelligent, and their sense of justice too mute, not to perceive
that the refusal to pay a moderate stipulated rent is a robbery of the
landlord, by depriving him of that which is lawfully his own, and that
by crime. of this description, which dirorganne society, and
destroy all confidence between man and man, every class,
the poor as well as the rich, mud eventually suffer.
Among a claw so nenseroue ae teat of the landlords of
Ireland, It is to be eared that all have not been alike mindful of their
duties during the late period of unexampled misery; but these excep.
firma have only served to bring out, in strong relief, the conduct of the
great majority of that body, who for many months part hove toiled
with an energy and zeal that ore beyond ell praise and hare sacrificed
their comforts, and hove devoted their time and their resources to
mitigate the sufferings of the destitute. There can be nu better
prod that the some feelings now animated the landlords mid gentry of
the e runty of Tipperary. than the mourence contained is their meme-
rial that they acknowledge their liabili.y to repay the advances
made for the relief of the poor, end that to the best of meek ability they
will carry out the low which provides far the poor. Ouch a deelaration
from a body so important cannot but serve as on example, and he at.
tended with beneficial effects throughout the whole country. The Lord
Lieutenant gratefully Accepts your offer of co-operation inlhearduous
tat which has devolved upon him. It will most materially as-lot
him in bin endeavours to impress upon ell clam" the neeneity of
exertion, and of ameliorating the social conditioa of the people; and
under divine providence, he ventures to hope that the gople,
improved by education, and guided by the precepts and example
of thine above them, will awaken to a sense of their own tree
interests; and, no longer listening to pernicious adviser, will
turn to better ways, and abhor the perpetration of crimes
such as those winch have too often di-graced the county of Tip-
perary. It is, however, the duty of the lord Lieutenant to uphold
the law; from the performance of that duty be will not ebrink—and
all the powers with which le•re invested shall be put forth, on ere ry
OLCMIOII when it is necessary to repress violence and outrage, tied to
protect the lives and property of all classes of the cornmenity. All
ore alike intereged in the law being maintained. and justice
impar-
tidly administered ; and from all he hopes for assistance in his deter-
minnion—ae far an depends upon him—effectually to seenre those
objects, upon which, not the well-bring alone, but the eery existence
of society deprods. I have the honour to be, he., Wm. N. Soma-
mits.—Vimount Sundale, dm. tie.