The Express.
London, England, 1850-01-07 00:00:00

MR. C.kRLYLE ON SLAVERY.

k From the Daily News.)

It i* *demi now the ease--st least, amongst us—
that philoeophers meddle with the disputes of politi-
&v. The other day, however, Mr. CARLYLE WOE
sp his r n to show cause why the nerves should be
wan ton.l.mned to compulsory labour ; in other
weds, brought luck to slavery, in order to produce
• spices " fir a " wiser " race of men, who are, he
pm," ban lords " of them.
Such truculent philosophy called forth an honest
sad eloquent burst of indignation from the editor of
the boirer, end has since provoked a mere ratiocia-
gory, but not leas powerful, reply—or rather, rebuke
—from • philosopher as eminent as Mr. CARLYLE.
That haute-spun epistle from a friend of humanity to
▪ worshipper of mere heroes we gave on Wednesday
from Frames Maga:me, which has made itself the
arena of the control ersy.
Although Mr. Cam.rxes effusion surprised us,
coming from a man of thought, such • claim'!
alight be well expected from the practical selfishness
of
ihe day. Never certainly was a time in which
eases were so alive to their especial interests, in'
which people so closely and acutely scanned the
inequslit es and injustice of respective lots, or eyed
with more pemliar envy the privileges enjoyed by
others to their detriment. In the generation which
preceded the present, popular complaints, however
tom.ded on physical suffering and privation, never-
theless always mourned the tone and language of
eentiment, sad the oppressed complained of their
wrongs with the eloquence of patriotism and philan-
thropy. In the present day we go to work with
figures and statistics. Each weighs his portion of
'octane, of earnings,:of the public burdens by the ounce
and scruple. We are no longer a nation of orators,
bet a race of mathematicians and socountaats.

Amougst the foremost of the complaints made by
one asses against another, is, that none work enough;
etch thinks his brother deficient either in activity or
intelligence, in making the most of what he possesses,
either in capital or land. The poor want providence
and industry • the rich are luxurious, rather than en-
terprising aslandlords—u statesmen they follow pre-
judice and party. The mercantile clue are timid and
edtish ; and the champions of the lower class de-
ecucee the middle class at home, more than they do
the upper. The whole word is full of these mutual
rec: mutations. These it is that: have revolutionised
France, sown the tares of class-strife amidst the crop of
liberty in Germany, and spread disquiet, uncertainty,
and alum ma amongst ourselves. We may depend
upon it, that this general strife and disoontent amongst
arum can only terminate by a more tquitable com-
promise or adjustment of the burdens and advantages
so unequally distributed.
In the meantime, however, the world has disco-
eered very powerful and simple means for diminish-
ing the advantages, epurring the activity, and sharp-
ening the intelligence of the rich. This is neither
mere nor less than Free Trade. By opening manufac-
turn g capital to the competition of the world, and
subjecting landed monopoly to the same, tbe capital-
ist and the landlord are compelled to remedy their in-
herent vices and divest themselves of undue advan-
tages. Should political reform ensue upon the com-
mercial, of which there can bo little doubt, the
voice of complaint will be silenced on the one hand,
and the eery,* of eff,rt strung upon the other.
Labour, however, teems morn difficult to enlighten
and educe, than either the intelligence or activity or
manufacturers or farmers. Whatever way, indeed,
we attempt to interfere with labour, we are sure to
make its condition worse. Charity takes from it the
chiet virtues of the poor—providence and moral
Allow or encourage population, and the re-
sult is misery and crime. Check population, immo-
rality and crime invade from another quarter. Shut
the labourer from the teed, making him a dependent
on money wages ; or give him the land, with wide
and arm for his sole capital, and the result in both
cases, far from being dissimilar, is equally deplorable.
The fact is, that we have not yet arrived at a sauafac-
tore solution of the difficonies attending the greet
question of labour.
But although we may not have yet discovered a
complete remedy for the deficiencies and for the ills
of labour, an attempt to doctor the one being found
generally to aggravate the other, we are still far
enough advanced to decide what will not improve the
condition or value of labour. F,rre will not do this.
Bo! force, unfortunately, is a remedy that always sug-
gests itself to the intantine, the ignorant, and the bung-'
lung. If the body politic goes wrong, the obvious
remedy of the impatient bungler is, establish des-
potism, employ military force. If anarchy invades
the body social, the suggestion is, let there be a
dictator, a LItetTIGIII to set all right. If trea-
son at.d disaffection be rife, the same school, in lieu of
all other remedies, will recommend the scaffold and
tbe rope. The sentiment is precisely identical with
that which lit the fires of Smithfield to burn out pro-
testantism. In every age the tendency of the vulgar
great to be vindictive and to effect moral ends by
violence is the same, and is checked :more by the
humanity than by the reason of the muses.
One is sorry to see in a mind like that of CAR-
LTLE's a tendency to rely on end have recourse to
remedies which in truth only appertain to barbarism
and backward ages. The last illustration of them
is the anathema against the West Indian negroes,
who, because they demand high wages for hoeing
canes, are declared of inferior race to the whites, and
handed over to slavery and subjection.
But, as far as the little of this which is truth
can go, have we r o negro idleness amongst ourselves?
Is there no Quashes in that preference of independ-
ence to work, which prompts the literary and philo-
sophic thinker to ruminate in an humble lodging on
two hundred a year of caning', rather than toil at
law books and law courts for two thousand ? The
legal profession bears with us the "spices" of
social and public life • how many of our literary
brethren prefer to feed on the pumpkin of the stray
contribution, and to till his own intellectual garden,
rather than labour in the sultry cane-field of forensic
or political life ? Suppose some powerful utilita-
rian were to take Mr. CARLYLE from his
desk, match the volume of mutt PAUL from
his hand, and replace it by Crum, force a horsehair
wig upon his templet, and declare : " Thou haat con-
demned black Quashee to raise sugar in lieu of
pumpkins, as the more productive commodity in ex-
change; by the same rule I condemn thee, white
(pashee, to manufacture pleadings and judgments,
and not barren ethics or essays." What could white
(plasAee say ?
Moreover, we deny it to be proved that the negro
is of inferior capabilities. Industry, with its many
component virtues of provident economy, sagacity,
and money-making, is a faculty, the growth
of several generations. We should like to
know how much of it had the European
serf when emancipated under the successors of
Cibuttemenee. And we utterly deny that the cir-
cumstances of West India culture at all afford a fair
scope for negro industry. The produce of sugar is, in
tart, not a culture but a manufacture. It requires
many thousand pounds to erect a mill, and without a
mill there is no use in growing the cane. One might
as sect say that the inmates of the English poor
house, or the encampers by its road-side were an in-
ferior race, because they. did not produce calico, as
argue that the negro IS but half a man because
IA dots not grow sugar. Capital and the skill
to use it, are of slow and difficult growth,
requiring, first of all, a certain degree of political
lit tdom and stability, which is in itself a work
rt tjuiring a great deal of skill and energy as well as
!,,rune. One half of Europe is still without having
foundations of industry thus cleared. And if so,
what right have ELIEOIIIIIIIIII to draw conclusions
atNinet the inhabitants of Hayti ?
‘Ve should say, therefore, that no race of men has
n proved inferior to another, except in such
re•pects as time and circumstance may account for,
without basing recourse to origin. The injustice of
atAittting the weak to the strong, or the supposed
foolish to the self-declared wise, is an iniquity.
A• 4 tot only is it iniquity, but the most dangerous
Subjection to be of any use, must be of the
neatly to the few, and the Arm wielded by the latter
must thus inevitably be a pyre of opinion, not of
physical or nominal superiority. Whatever the force
of opinion has been in some matters, we are perfectly
coevinced that there is every day a getter necessity
Ptf its being no other than a force of justice. And
that is quite incompatible with the feudal and five-
eentur)-in arrest doctrine, of Mr. CaRLYLL

ICt.t,r, 1 foN H. H. VAT, Esq.,
*P., at 11411 rest day, on Saturday, the 23rd alt., ordered
tu, Pt, east. le be returned to his tenants upon their last
hall year's rent, in addition to the tan per eat. returned at
Mediestster last, to tvaiderateta of the present low prices.

LORD WHARNCLIFFE AND THE PROPOSED
CORN-LAW MEETING IN YORK.

Ohm tie rerkokinmeat.)
This morning (Friday) we were tenured with a
copy of the following able sad admirable letter writ-
ten by Lord Wks/addle, in answer to the requisition
circulated by Mr. Thompson, of Moat Hall, prepara-
tory to convening the proposed protectionist meeting
in the city of York. Seeing that his lordship is e
distinguished conservative, and possessing the highest
influence in this county, the document we copy under-
neath will fall like a bomb shell in the ranks of the
protectionist combination. Nothing could be
more appropriate than that this important mis-
sive should have followed so speedily on the heels of
Sir Robert Peel's address to his tenants. In ad-
dition tot striking similarity in the views of these
two distinguished statesmen, Lord Wharncliffe dives
deeper than does the right ham baronet into the
merits of the question. A few more such letters from
the eminent of the land and the game is up with the
protectionists. The letter requires no comment from
us. It is sufficiently forcible of itself :

" Wortley, Sheffield, Dec. 31, 1849.
" Sir,—l am directed to address to you my answer
to a circular which I have had the honour to receive,
conveying a requisition for a meeting at York in
order to consider the beet means of obtaining from
parliament the enactment of a fixed duty on grain.
" I regret that I can in no degree concur in that
proposal; and as I wish neither to appear indifferent
on a question so important, nor disrespectful to the
gentlemen whose names are attached to the circular,
I tike the liberty of adding a few words in explana-
tion of my reasons for dissent.
"It is my firm opinion that there is nothing in the
present prospects of agricultare to justify such an ap-
plication to parliament.
" There eppeare to me to be circumstances in the
commercial his•ory of the last few years, and in the
actual condition of the ma kets, which, together with
the effects of an ill-d' fined and exaggerated alarm
prevailing at this moment, are amply sufficient to
support the conclusion that the extreme deprt salon of
agncultural prices at the present juncture is owing to
temporary causes.
" Be this, however, as it may, I cannot think that
the remedy for such depression is to be sought in a
revival of taxes upon the most necessary articles of
human food, and of general consumption; more espe-
cially since it canr.ot be denied that as consumers,
the cultivators of the soil have largely shared in the
benefits arising from the reduced price' of many of
these commoditii a.

" The proposed requisition contemplates each an
enactment in a double point of view, as a measure
of protection and a measure of finance.
" So far as the question is to te considered as that
of a financial arrangement, it appears to me that this
proposal is m;splaced. It is the business of the go-
vernment to judge whether the exigo ncies of the
state require any addition to its income by general
taxation. If the government sees no such necessity,
for any class in the community to assert it is, to say
the lent, unusual. If there are indeed any taxes on
articles of general consumption the removal of which
would more than counterbalance, to the community
at large, the renewal of taxes on grain, let them be
distinctly pointed out. It is the duty of government
and of parliament to remit these without any counter-
vailing increase of taxation, if this be possible, and it
will be time enough when these particular duties are
specified, and when we are quite sure that their
removal cannot be otherwise anticipated, for those
who hold an opinion on the qu. stion to say bow far
they think such remission could secure the proposed
compensation.
" M a measure of protection, in which light it is
clear that the proposal is mainly to be considered, I
am fully convinced that the corn duties cannot be
restored, and that to expect it is a mere delusion, than
the propagation of which nothing can be more per.
nicious to the true interests of any branch of industry.
I can, therefore, take no part in any proceedings for
such an object.
" What the agriculture of this country really needs
is a wider and more energetic application of capital
and skill. To invite this should be the end and aim
of every true friend to its pro►perity. To accomplish
it, the one thing requ.site abive all others is a reliance
upon settled prospects, without which the hope is
small of attracting either the one or the other. lam
therefore firmly persuad, d that no course can be so
eeply prejudicial to the cause of domestic agriculture
as that which tends to promote and continue agita-
tion and uncertainty, for objects whose very nature
is, to say the least of it, in the highest degree proble-
matical. I request that you will lay this letter before
Mr. Thompson, of Meet Hall, and the other gentle-
men who have signed the circular of December 26th,
at the earliest opportunity.
" I remain, sir, your obedient servant,
" WHAHNCLIFFE4
" Mr. T. Richardson, Black Swan."

ANOTHER SAVINGS BANK DEFAULTER.—The de-
positors of the savings-bask in Aylesbury have been caused
the greatest anxiety and consternation in consequence of the
absconding ol Mr. Henry Stratton, clerk to Mr. James
James, solicitor, who is the secretary to the bank. It is
greatly feared, from circumstances which have just trans-
pired, that N, r . Stratton, who has veiled for America, is a
defaulter to no small amount. In the Aylesbury papers of
list week appeared a notice, issued by Mr. Jame., to tlee
effect that depositors in the bank were requited to bring in
their pus-books for examination up to the 20th ol November;
the trustees having appointed the 14th of this month for the

commencement orthiiexaminatin, the depositon were " re-
quested to lose no time is leaving their pus books at the
valet, when a printed receipt will be given for
each book delivered sp." Mr. Stratton, it appears
from the circumstance of his being clerk to Mr

James, ha I much to do with the business connected with the
savings beak ; and there is no doubt that, fearing the dis-
closures which would be inevitable upon the books being
brought in for examination, he judged it expedient to make
himself "scarce." Consequently, a few days since, he left
Aylesbury for the alleged purpose of visiting an uncle in
0 hire, accompanied by his wife and family, ar•
r with Mr.e James when he left to return to Aylesbury
is time resume his duties en the 14th inst. Circumstances,
shortly after his departure, havinif excited the suspicions of
Mr. James as to the integrity of his clerk, in whom he had
plumed the greatest confidence, he was induced to institute
certain inquiries, the result of which will be gathered from
the following letter, dated Jan. 3, which Mr. James lost no
time is transmitting to each of the trustees of the bank:
" Sir,—l regret to inform you that during the examina-
tion of the savings bank vouchers, delivered yesterday a
book, containing items to the amount of 301., in the haild-
e 'lung of my clerk, Mr. Stratton, and bearing no folio
number for the ledger, nor any manager's cheek, was pro-
duced by a person of the name of Falkner. My suspicions
were immedirely excited that he had absented himself from
my office under a false pretence ; and on obtaining istorma-
lion as to his movements from his brother, end as to nice
money transactions from Mr. Sale of the London and County
Bank, I was forced to the conclusion that he had ab
bonded with a I,e sum of money, with which he had
been just entreated by an aged relative. I at once sent
instructions to London for a police-efficar to board the
Julindar, bound from London to Adelaide, and which
was to touch at Plymouth yesterda whilst I, in
eonspany with Mr. Self, proceeded by the mail train to
Liverpool, in the hope of intercepting him there ; but we
hand, to our mortification, that he had Nailed (under his own
wow) for New York, in the steam 'hip Canada, on Satur-
day, with his wife and children. I retuned by the anoraks
Mail, and hay. since had an interview with the Under-Se-
cretaries of State, la the hope that, the government would
obtain his wrest in America; but the treaty which exists
between the two countries will not authorise any interfe-
rence, unless he shall be found to lays been guilty of for-
gery, in which case officers will be immediately seat to effect
his capture. Although it is not possible to speak with cer-
tainty upon the matter, I entertain a very straw opinion
that the defslcatiens have astandad over a very short period,
and to an amount exceedingly small, when compared with
the property he has left availabl to cover them." A meeting
of the trustees of the bask has been summoned forthwith by
Mr. James, when every further information obtained by that
gentleman will be laid before them for their consideration sad
guidance. Mr. Strode's, betides being one of the merle-
tors of the Bucks Chronicle, was agent to the Royal Ma-
chines Asoirance office, secretary to the Brickingtiamshiel
Building Society, and also secretary to the Aylesbury Be.,
8; Building Society. It is stated that the books of els
Aylesbury Building Society have been ascertained to be he •
state of considerable confusion. As regards the books of tie
Buckinghamshire Building Society, they have net been is
his posieisims but placed is the hands of a party of_e_reat
integrity, so ;hat no fears are entertained say meddling
with its lands by the fugitive. There appears to be Yee,
little doubt that an uncle of Stratton's will be a sufferer heel
the dishonesty of his relative to a very ooesiderabls auserant.
A large sum of money had been placed in his hands to be
invested in good security, the whole of which, it is feared,
be has decamped with.

MARRIAGE AND DEATII.-08 Christman Day a
young man named Caleb Webb, of Drayton, Dorsetshire,
aged 22 years, was married to a respectable young woman at
the parish ehureh of Newington, by the Rev. Mr. Cotes, and
afterwards spent the day at the house of the bride. On the
same evening he complained of b• ing unwell, and hi, mother
obtained some medicine for him ; he, however, still conti-
nuer to get worse until the following Friday, when Mr.
Byass, surgeon, was called in, but without effect, for cm the
same evening death terminated his existence, to the gnat
grief of his young wits and friends.

THE
MANUFACTURING DISTRICTS.

/COMMUTER, JAN. 5.
Our market for manufactures continues healthy
and promising. Yarns are taking somewhat freely by hems
manufacturers, at slightly increasing rates. and One numbers
of yarns are scarce. The demand for printing cloths and
shirting* contames good, both for the home trade and for
export, and the price of the former is a little in ad-
vance of lest week. Heavy domestics go off better,
but the price has not yet ►dvanced suffieiently to be
remunerative, sad so Le of the mills employed in
producing them either remain closed or on reduced
hours of working ; but light domestics, suitable for export,
are scarce and in a better position with regard to price. The
feeling of buyers, both for the home trade and for export.,
appears to be one of confidence in the maintenance of prices.
Our Mechanics' Institution had its annual gathering in
the Free-trade Hall, last evening, as a kind of Christmas
party. There had been no eloquent speakers invited, the
airectors trusting for the entertainment of the company to
the amusements got up by a portion of the younger =em-
bus, and consisting of the old English Christmas cere-
monies and masks. A description of these was given at
some length in the Daily News last year. About three
thousand persons were present, and though the institution
is said not to be in a i flourishing a position as it was, the
chairman (Mr. J. A. Turner, president of the Commercial
Association) gave a lively and interesting picture of its use•
fulness At the conclusion of the chairman's address
the Christmas mummeries and processions commenced,
interrupted occasionally for selections of music, and
the poop e present appeared to enjoy the prcceetiings
amazingly. An untoward event caused a great sensation
during one of the procession.. This was in the procession of
"Old Father Christmas." Old "Father Christmas" is a mask,
and he is followed by his children, bearing a huge plum
pudding for imitation of one), a cake, bowl of wassail,
and other good fare. Unfortunately, in bearing the plum
pudding into the room, with tpirits of wine blazing upon it,
one of the masters of the ceremonies attempted to throw
over it some additional spirits from a sponge, and in doing
so drops of the liquid, in a burning state, descended upon the
bearers and some of the company. A terrific scream at.-
nouncul the accident, and so agonising was the pain inflicted
on some of the bearers that they threw themselves on the
floor. A lady's dress caught fire and so seriously was she in.
jured that although the Homes were soon extinguished she
had to be borne into an anti-room to have the burns she had
sustained attended by &surgeon. Mr. John Potter. mayor
of Manchester, Sir /Meant= Armitage, and Joseph Brother,
toe, Esq., M P., were present.
It a stated that the Bishop of Manchester has been ho-
noured with an invitation to visit her Majesty and Prince
Albert, and is gone to Windsor Castle for that purpose.

SUNDAY DUTIES AT THE POST OYFICE.-Another
important measure for this reduction of the Sunday du* ifs at
the provincial offices will take effect on Sunday, the 13!b
inst. The divcontinownes of all Sunday deliveries, except

one, ha. rendere 1 it practicable to withdraw many deipatclies
on the Sunday without inconvenience to the public; and
this, together with other measures of relief, has enabled the
Postmaster-General to direct that henceforth, as a general
rale, every post office in England and Wales shall, after ten
o'clock in the morning, continue closed for the rest of the
day, instead of oprilng again, as at present, at five in the
evening. This will be a most important addition to the re.
lief already afforded on the Sunday to some thousands of
persona in the service of the Post-office. We may add that
the public has been misled as to the increase of force in the
London office. Such increase, which has n in a single
instance exceeded 25 men, is now reduced to 14, and it is
expected ;that further reductions will shortly tsk• place.—
Sunday paper.

- - -
SEARCH FOR SIR JOHN FRANKLIN.—As it appears
there Is a pause at the Admiralty about fitting out an ex-
p,dition old Baffin's Bay, to search for the missing ships, we
suppose intelligence from Dr. Rae is expected, and also •
report from Commander boors' of the Plover, but as it is
well k^.own that 'he former had orders, that in the event of
his obtaining any tiding of Sir John Franklin's expedition,
he was to have sent an express, which, es hie operations
would end before the middle of September, should hare
reached this country by the lust American mail, end as the
report of the latter should reach England by the next West
Indian mail, the nut week will put an end to blth these
expectations, and it will be seen what step, their lordships
must take, because we are convinced that there must be no
longer any delay.—Nautical Standard.

FRENCH AND ENGLISH POST.—The following
memorial lies for signature at all the principal manufac-
turing towns of Great Britain :
0 To the Right Hon. Lord John Russell, M.P. First
Lord of the Treasury, 8:1. &c.—The memorial of the
undersigned merchants, bankers, and others, of —,
humbly ahoweth that the present postal communication
b-tween England and France does not offer those faci-
lities which the great interests of the two countries
require. That the mail service via Dover and Calais is per-
formed with much unnecessary delay, and conveyed by a
eirsuitous and expensive route, to the great detriment of
commerce and international communication. That by the
substitution of the more direct and less expensive route, via
Folkestone and Boulogne, letters posted in Paris in the
evening would reach London in time for the first morning
delivery, and in time also for the early morning mails to the
meth and west of England. That the delay caused by the
present postal service between the two countries affects not
only the correspondence between London and Peri', bat the
mails from India and China, and thereby occasions much in-
erawmienee to the general trade and 001•1110/00 of the
country. That the service between Folkestone and Bou-
logne could be performed with certainty end regnlari,y,
except during the prevalence of southwest gales of wind,
which render the port of Boulogne Inaccessible for not more
than twenty tinsel is the year, when the mails might be
landed at Calais and carried by special conveyance to Bou-
logn. That even under such circumstance' the mails
would be conveyed in the same time and be delivered at the
sus Mesas at prow t via Dover and Calais, where there is
as iamasasghW fixed and regular delay occasioned by
the eddielonel length of 661 miles of reed, and that the pre.
sent failures in the ferries, which not unfrequently occur
claotrar sertli.ewit gale* of wind when Calais is inaccessible '
coo
t entirely eases. That your memorialists therefor;
pray that, be Übe lemereas of commerce and the promotion
of amity and intereenres between t4e two (*nutria, the
nasil service may be transferred to the direct and natural
highway between Lesion and Peru, via Folkestone and
Beulogue."

EXTRAORDINARY EXPLOMON.—Yesterday morn-
ing, between eleven and twelve o'clock, an explosion, nearly
attended with fatal oonsequenoes to three persons, topple nod
on the premies. belonging to Messrs. C. and D. Hays, the
extensive granary ksepen of Mill-street, Doekbeed. A
vessel laden with flour was lying in the dock aloegside of
Megan. Heyes drying kilns. The engineer in the employ
of the firm invited the men in charge of the cargo to inspect
the machinery in his mester's kilns, and drew out one of the
iron slides under the sifters, which caused the dust of the
barley =amulet. d thereon to fall, and coming in °outset with
the hot air pipes, it became ignited, when the whole of the
remaining dust exploded, blowing tie tiles off the rool of the
kilns. The engineer and the two men who had accompanied
him into the kilns were foreed down, and all three were se-
verely burned. A quantity of malting was also set on fire,
but the workmen immediately commenced pouring buckets
of water upon the flames, and prevented the Ilre from pro-
m/ening. The engineer and the other two men were, how-
ever, so badly burned that they wen obliged to have medical
assistance. The firm wee insared.

BASE AMERICAN MONEY,—CAUTION TO EMI-
OBANTI.—It may be as well to put parties here on their
guard, by noticing that then has been in the United Stotts
a large lane of cqunterfeit quarter-esOts. They do not con-
tain (says the Ausayiat) any gold. They are made of that
kind of brain called Princes, or Prince Report's metal, being
a bright gold coloured alloy, consisting, aceordiag to Dr.
Ure, of two parts of sine and one of copper. There is, more-
over, a fraction of the peroxide of tin. They are all of the
mate composition and weight. As genuine questa eagle.,
they should weigh 644 groins, but thou opowiwoo Nino weigh
234 grains less. They are about the wow Mason u our
geoids° quarter eagle, bat exceed it in diansUr. No puns
who is 10 the habit of handling gold weal hit to detect
them in a moment from the great &Adam et wolike. The
stamp is remarkably well done, and Willa dsodu an one.
They have the mark of the New Odour alll (e) mike the
eagle, date 1849.—Ecessoetioi.