The Express.
London, England, 1850-01-02 00:00:00

THE FARMER'S CAUSE.

TO Tar TIMOR OT TIE IXTRUS.
Sin, —At the Hantieglotishire cementy meeting, on
the 22nd December, each 011121courea were mode as deserve
pbe published through the Merlon. It wee then ex-
fa ned why rmers do sot salts to demand a redaction of
rent, rates, sad taxes. The reams is, the whole sum meld
as not rates, and tax.s, does not amount to as much as
protection. Aud it mu shown that corn, upon an average
of years, had Soma sal at more than 71. per bethel, and
without protection they can onl expect ss. Now, this 21.
min Wee, ukase hot , w more Ikea all the rue,
✓ates, sad tun, upon the land. Penmen have been chal-
lenged to have their land cleated of rent, rates, and taxes.
spin coedition that they pay Is. per bushel foe all the cora
frown. Under protrch they have had 2.. nitre per bushel,
which is twice as much as all the chaos' upon the cropping
land.
Toe data producing( them disclosures are the poor-law re-
turns and perish rate-bock' documents agricalturios are
suwilleag to refer to. Huidinedon union comprehends
80,000 Mt, ; poor's-rate and county-rate 12,000/., or 3s. per
*ere. Deducting town matesstenta from the 12,000/, leaves
km than 2s. per acre for the arable land per annum. In
many parishes the fear rates—poor, 'county, church, high-
,to not tamed 2 . sere.
Land at 17.. per acre rent, grews 21 quarters, or 20
bushels. Add to the rent 2s. rates and Is. taxes, those make
20s , which is just le. per bushel. In asking, therefore, for
a fixed duty of Se. new quarter, farmers an asking for as
much as wed clear their land. This is a disclosure of some
moment—hut it Pt not all.
Under the old laws, farmers have enjoyed a bounty of 21.
per bushel, e., they have sold corn at upwards of 71., and
the natural lake u Ss. By favour of the law they have
enityed a bounty equal to twice all the charges upon the
laud. These charges are fur every bushel 9d. rent, 2d. rates,
Id. taxes kerineow tax, income, dec.). Farmers may well not
ask for Manion in these wheaten, they would rather have
protection and boar these charges. Oreat Runny pariah, in
which Mr. Brighty lives, minium 2,040 acne, 312 inhobi-
tants, poor's rates 14W per *Amon., ese le. 4d. per acre. The
union papers show nearly the same results for all the
parishes. Hence reduction is not worth asking for, in cons.
',orison with p totemic's. Farmers can have taair cropping
land cleared of all charge. for le. per bushel, and they have
been .J ;Tiag 2s.
31w. wee,. M.P. for the county, claimed for the farmers
the old sliding scale law, and told them the protectiooist
party in parliament were prepared to try for that old law
again. By this demand he makes them ask for twice as much
as all the charms upon the land. He urges them to
ask for that which would make them again penaioners upon
the state. He would make teem ink for out door relief,
not from the union funds, but from the nation, by paying
them an emus pr ee for corn. Mr. Yellows. would make the
agriculturists piny a part of the state, like the army, or
royal family, cr clergy, or placement He claims for them
66e. per quarter. Without protection they can only have
Co. Will the state pay this 2s. bounty upon every bushel,
hi order to make the farmers a part of the state retinue ?
It was felt at the meeting that protection had been too great,
and they were now willing to take less. But they would
rather nasaln upon the state than have any reduction of rent,
rates, or taxes. And they are sot unwilling to be as the
!aristocracy are, or the army, or clergymen. State out door
relief is ametioned by high examples. It is not claimed by
that name by the femurs, but under the pretence of taxing
foreigners. At the same time it taxes natives to the extent
of 76 per bushel indeed of Se., the natural price of corn, and
what et can be grown for all over the world.
Nothing could have been more pleasing to Mr. Bright,
than for him to have witnessed at the meeting the trai a of
his lecture deliver. din Huntingdon, akw years dam. At
that time they isle indigaatet when Mr. Bright told them,
they lived and paid then rents by favour of legislation and
not by farming. Now they arksouledge that, and demand
those laws *gain, or even halt of them. Here is a change
and proms. The farmers feel that they have been state
pensioners to the extent of 2s. per bushel on all their corm.
That line placesnen and clergymen they have been in receipt
of public allow once, under the name of a " tax en foreigners,"
to the extent ot twice all the charges upon land.
Since ylr. lright visited Hentengelem and scattered some
seeds of political hoots ledge it has made Ell 2 progress. Oae
of its borough members, Vol. Peel, is a free-trader, and the
whole county a WOG ed at the amount of state allow-
ance, they now lied they have been favoured wish. Fin
leaden need not be anxious to push on tree trade principles.
They are spreading and growing rapidey enough. The
thugs heti tg place seder the new ante of things will being
with it temapaery esibirrawmuti and diezens. Pavans&
will grow strongly enough, it must not be forced too quickly.
A rest change is taking plaeo. and many will suffer while
essay will pr -pa. But Huntingdon has made a grave for
protection, only let us out Marry on the interment, nor be too
katy With the nesemary national at r .ngentent.
1 am, sir, &c., A. B.

MUSIC.

MR. BALM AT BERLIN.

A letter from Berlin states that on tie evening of
the 20th ult., the whole of the Prussian royal family
assembl,d in the grand drawing-rooms at Charlotten-
burg, to assist at a concert. Mr. Belle, whose opera,
the " Bondman,* is under rehearsal had the
honour of being invited. in order to accompany
the prima donnas Rueter and Tnexeck and,
other artists in the performance of three pieces,
selected by the king's spacial desire trom
Mr. Belle's compositions. These were " Romance "
from the " Bohemian Girl," sung by M. Meriting, first
to :or to the Open; quartett from the same, by Mes-
dames liiister and Toone*, and by Messrs. Mantiva
and Zethietche; and an air from the " Bondman;" all
three pieces beta :dully rendered by the above distin-
gteielmo artists, and accompanied with delicacy sad
sentiment by the composer, drew forth loud and re-
peated plaudits horn tie royal party and a eociety com-
not only uf ill ust rious individuals, all competent
edges of mussed merit, but of many of the most emi-
nent dilletanti or Berlin. Their majesties and the me m-
hers of the royal family evinced their sense of the
pleasure afforded them ►y Mr. Balfe's composition by
most marked politeness, and by encouraging him to
anticipate complete success for the " Bondman "
(Der ifulatee), which will probably be brought out
in the course of the next three weeks. It may be
added that Mr. Balfe and his daughters have been
received In the higher circles of Berlin with well-
merited and flattering attentions. This might be
expected when, in addition to their own recommen-
dations, they bare the support and introduction of
Lord and Lady Westmorland.