The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1824-02-13 00:00:00

[ From the dluxitca• of Tuesday, Feb. 10.1

The official part contains only the statement of application
made by the .Minister of Justice, to the Keeper of the Seals, to
declare the absence, or certify the decease of certain sailors and
soldiers.

[NON-OFFICIAL TAIT.]

BIADRID, JAW. 25.

His Majesty hat been slightly indisposed since yesterday, and
keeps his room. The rest of the Royal Family are in good health.
Great exertions are making to organise the Royal Spanish
Guard. At Madrid, and in the capitals of the provinces, men are
enlisting for this service. It is said that a Swiss battalion will not
go sway at the time first fixed, but will, for a certain period, do
duty with the new guard.
A slight tumult at Villacagnas was immediately put down by
the firmness of the Aleade. On the 20th January the Liberals of
Penasanda de Braciunonte acted in a menacing manner, to which
the people replied. A battalion of royal volunteers is gone from
Madrid to that little town to restore order.

It is to be observed, that in general it is only in the two Castile'
that the public tranquillity is accidentally disturbed from time
to time. The inhabitants, nearer to the focus of the revolution,
were the first victims of the Constitutional system, and have suf-
fered the most. It was in these provinces, too, that the revo-
lution bad at one time assembled its most faithful satellites ;
and they have left fatal traces of their odious power. The news
from the frontier provinces, and from those on the east and south,
are highly satisfactory. The Moaiteur gives also, in two columns,
la more detailed account of the insurrection at Manille, in the be-
ginning of June, 1823.

I From the Etoik of Feb. 11.]

3IADRID, FEL 2.

It is affirmed that the decree of amnesty will soon be published,
with the modifications proposed by the Council of State and the
Council of Castile, whom his Majesty consulted on this subject.
We do not doubt that the wisdom of those respectable bodies will
know how to class the individuals concerned with justice and firm-
' ncss. We have always said that it was necessary to distinguish
the revolutionists who made revolution, from those who were made
by the revolution. There is also a distinction to be made in this
last class. %Ve know some of these men, who, in their provinces,
loudly declared against the insurrection in the Isle of Leon, who,
in the municipalities, opposed certain individuals who favoured
the revolt (some of these have since slidcd into the ranks of the
Royalists) and who did not yield till the Revolutionary Government
was established, after the extorted oath of the King.
It is affirmed that, by his Majesty's order, the proceedings com-
menced against persons confined for political misdemeanours, shall
be terminated in a fortnight.

Letters from Lisbon of the 46th of January say, that the Con-
stitutional party continues to intrigue against the heroic Charlotte
of Bourbon, whom this party abhors because that courageous
Queen was the chief cause of the destruction of that infamous party
in Portugal. They have gone so far as to pretend, that she covered
with her cr dit and protection projects too odious to be even ex.
pressed. The 31arquis de Talaru will set out in a few days to re.
,turn to France.

PAIIIISt FEB. 10.

Aloisia de Stnlberg, Countess of Albany, widow of Prince
Charles Edward (the Pretender), died et Florence on the th
of .lanuary.

Far NCH Fr NM—PARIS, FEB. 10.—Fire per Cents. opened
at 07f. 40c.; closed at 97f. Alc. Loan of 1823, 91. Bank Stock,
1,705. Neapolitan Rentes, Mi. Spanish Rentes, 25. Exchange
on London—one month, 25f lk.; three rnanths, 23f. 35c.

Mr. Hume brought forward his motion last night, in the
house of Commons, to refer to a Select Committee the
existing laws restraining the emigration of artisans, the ex-
portation of machinery, and the laws so fraught with
severity against workmen (commonly called the Combins-
tion Laws). The Ilonourable Gentleman took occasion, in
the course of his speech, to make some well-merited allu-
sions to the las the !louse and the country bad sustained in
the person of Mr. lticattlo, whose extended information and

assistance would be so truly valuable on the present °cession. I
In despite of all the laws made to r_•strain it, the exportation
of machinery, Mr. Hume remarked, every day surrepti-
tiously took place. If the law, he said, restraining its free
disposal was repealed, that branch of the national industry
would be greatly increased. On the subject of the Com-
bination Laws, Mr. Hume dwelt strongly on the injustice
of tilos^ enactments, anti the different light in which they
regard the rich and the poor. They permitted toasters
freely to combine among themselves for high prices ; but
denounced, under heavy penalties cf tine and imprison-
ment here, and even corporal punishment in Ireland, any
such associations among the unfortunate workmen. Mr.
Ilutne's allusions to Mr. Ricardo, and the sense he
expressed of the talents, the worth, and the disinterested
services of that enlightened and much-regretted gentleman,
were received with the most marked assent and approba-
tion by both sides of the House. The death of such a
man is indeed a national loss, and deeply to be lamented.
Mr. flume, while dwelling on the impoliey of the
laws that restrain the emigration of the artisan, justly
stated, that while the poor artificer was denied the
right to quit the country, and pronounced an alien'
for remaining absent after a certain period, the man of
wealth was wholly unfettered by any law or assessment,
and might remove himself or his property, to any country in
the Old World, or the New, selected by him as his abode.
The principal restraining statutes, the objects of Mr.

liume's motion, are the following :—To prevent the trans-
porting or seducing any British artisans to settle abroad
the statute sth Geo. I. c. 97, enacts, that any individualise;
enticing or seducing them, for that purpose, shall be sub-
ject, on information and conviction, to a tine of one hun-
dred pounds for the first offence, and an imprisonment of
three months; and shall be subject, for the second offence,
on by the British Anibas-
to be fined at the discretion of the Magistrate, and be im-
prisoned a year ; and the artificers themselves so depart-
ing into foreign countries, and not returning within six
sadmonorthosr aßrsifterd(bieltingin so
othe cocallutAntry
where they reside, shall
subsequently be deemed aliens, and forfeit all their lands
and goods in Great Britain, with an incapability to inherit
any devise, legacy, or gift whatever. By the
statute
of the '22d Geo. 11. c. 13, the seducers of any arti-
sans incur, for the first offence, a forfeiture of SOOl.
for each individual so sent abroad, with imprisonment for
twelve months; and for the second offence of the same de.
scription, they arc rendered liable to a fine of I,ooa and
two years imprisonment; and by the same statute, con-
nected with the 14th (;eo. 111., c. 71, if any person ex-
ports any tools, or utensils used in the silk, linen, cotton, or
woollen manufactures (excepting only wool-cards to North
America), by these statutes and the I,lth Gco. 111. c. 5,
be forfeits the sum of 9001. ; and the captain of the
vessel, having a knowledge thereof, ff,:feits tool. ; and if
any captain of a King's ship, or officer of the customs,
knowingly suffers such importation, he loses his employ-
ment and is for ever rendered incapable of holding any •
public office. By a clause in this latter statute, every per.
son collecting such tools or utensils, in order to export the
same, shall, on conviction, forfeit such implements, and
be subject to a fine of 2001. By another restraining statute,
the 21st Geo. 111. c. 3, if any person shall put on board
any ship not bound to a port in Great Britain or Ireland,
or shall have in his custody with intent to export, any
engine, tool, or implement used in the woollen, cotton,
linen, or silk manufactures, he shall on conviction forfeit V
the same, and also the sum of 2001., and be imprisoned
twelve months, and till the forfeiture is paid ; and every
captain and custom-house officer who shall knowingly
receive such an article, or take an entry of it, shall forfeit
2001. By the 2'2d Geo. 111. c. 60, if any person shall
entice or encourage any artisan employed in printing call.
coca, cottons, inualins, or linens, to leave the kingdom, he
shall forfeit SOOl., and be imprisoned one year ; and per.
sons who export, or attempt to export, any engines or im-
plements used in that manufacture, shall forfeit seed. ;
captains and custom-house officers conniving at these
offences forfeit pool., and become incapable of holding any
office under the Crown. By 25th Geo. 111. c. 67, the
same penalties attach to enticing artificers in the iron and
steel manufactures ; and the 26th Geo. 111. c. 89,
renders the party exporting any instruments specified
in that statute, by name, liable to a penalty of 2001., and
to be imprisoned one year: These are the principal Acts
which enforce this unjust and illiberal monopoly; they
are discreditable to this age of advanced liberality and le-
gislation, and ought not to be suffered to blot the Statute
Book. The principal Act against the combination of work-
men was passed on the 19th of July 1600, and is entitled,
" An Act to repeal an Act passed in the last Session of Par-
liament, intituled 'an Act to prevent unlawful combina.
" tion of workmen,' and to substitute other provisions in
" lieu thereof." This latter Act, however penal and se.
irere, is mild in its enactments, when compared with the
, preceding Statute, and was a concession made to the poi.
tions of numerous bodies of artisans. The Bill in question
was brought into the House of Commons by Mr. George
Rose, who had been appointed to prepare it with the Chan-
cellor of the Exchequer (Mr. Pitt), the Attorney and So-
licitor General, Mr. now Sir Chas. Long, and Mr. Bragge,
now Mr. Bragge Bathurst. Strong measures of every sort
were then the rage with Ministers ; their object was to put
down popular meetings and combinations of every sort.
The suspension of cash payments some time before, and
other measures, had, during an expensive war, depreciated
the paper currency, and produced a rise in the prices of all
commodities and necessaries of life ; but wages remaining
stationary, artisans felt the pressure heavy on themselves
and their families. In I 795 the price of the quartet n loaf Rua
71d., in 1799 90., and in 1800 16d., nearly double. When
prices of every sort ruse, the artisans conceived themselves
justly entitled to an increase of wages, or as much more
of the current money, in return for their labour, as would
compensate for the depreciation created in the currency
by the Bank Restriction Act and other measures : undo
these circumstances, anti the increased demand for work-
men and labourers, arising from the war and the consump-
tion of life it brought with it, together with our naval mono-
poly and the many recent improvements that had then
taken place, the artisans throughout the country associated
to obtain an increase of wages and prevent their em-
ployers having their labour at the same remuneration as
in former years; these wages being, in fact, no longer
the same, but in reality much below what they were. But
the Legislature, on the representations of the master worit-
men, thought differe ; and the Act of 1799, repealed by
that of 1800, was passed, arming Justices of the Peace with
extraordinary powers to suppress every thing wearing the
semblance of combination among workmen for the purpose
of enhancing wages or controlling their employers. Bat
above fifty Acts of Parliament, from the earliest days, pre-
viously existed, regulating wages and contracts between
masters and workmen, and conceived in the same spirit as the
Act of 1800: the earliest of these Acts was passed
1304, the 331 year of King Edward 1. ; the last was in
1818, the Stith of the late reign. In the early part of
King Edsvanni reign, there was a pestilence in England,
and a scarcity of wor!tinen followed ; the first general
statute was passed in consequence, to regulate wages : ant
law, in fact, declared that they should be contented with
the same wages as before the pestilence. In a subsequent
reign—that of Henry was made felony for MOOS
to combine, to defeat the provisions of that Act. From the
reign of Edward down to the present day, successive Acts
of the came description have passed the Parliament, anal
almost with the same objects. "In all such questions,
Adam Smith states, " the counsellors of the Legislature
" have been the masters." And Malthus remarks, " that
" statutes or r^gulations to fix the price of labour has
" generally had for their object to prevent wages rune.
It is now probable that the greater part of these statutes
against the emigration of artisans, the exportation of ma-
chinery, and the combination of workmen, will, in a great
degree, be repealed, and replaced by enactments snore worthy
of an enlightened age of legislation. Mr. Huskisson, with a
liberality that now distinguishes Ministers, far from of pes:
ing Mr. liume's motion, declared his perfect concurrence
in its principles. lie agreed (the Right lion. Gentleman
said) that the artisan and mechanic should be free to (*WY
his industry where lie could. We know, ourselves, that s
number of English workmen are at present in France and
America, who, from the employment and increased wages
here, would gladly return, did they. not know thrnist,Slvt.
proscribed by the existing laws. against their etnigra
the exportation of machinery is not prevented by te'

statutes; on
sated and em
Hume's moth

are glad to sa,
it named ; an
if thkisson, 3
Frankland Le
Mr. Peter Ma
land, and othe

is a must Mope
in their hands
tercets and pr
labouring else
result.

The followin
Address of both
missioners' Spet
Answer was del
to the Common'
the Exchequer,
" I thank you f
" Nothing can
cordial panieipatio
to my heart as to oti
promote the Telfan
The King's Si
Speech," because
Answer it undo
his Majesty.
BRIGHTON, F
yesterday, being
were .present the
Hervey, the Km
Munster, General
Sir Abraham flu'
Rope, joined the
of the King's re
inquiries at the
usual instruetions
altogether discosit
complete, al thoug
weakness, such as
the gout. We
Brighton to-morn
travel direct, wit!
have reason to feat
ere his Alajesty's r
visits Windsor for
where he can be
trot that the dal
the frequent floods
unfavourable to hi

Yesterday morni
town from Bushy 1
We are informed
Duke of Bedford hi
last two months.

Yesterday, Mr. S
the Foreign Office.
Wednesday nigh
senger, left town w
Secretary for the Cc
to those received a
choly tidings of the
Sir Thomas Maitlan
• *loner of the lonian
Prince Louis of
leans : he has been
the western wilds in
ascended the Mississ
hardship and fatigue t
natural history of this
said to be very num(
lightened view which
young and vigorous II
Two of the most it
death of the late Sir T
The Marquis of Haiti
and Sir Frederick Ada
lonian Island..—Star.
Baron Gifford has
as the family appends
obscure village, where
and where they posses
RATE OF INTXRE3
as held yesterday, ai
the Merchants of
would reduce

per annum, w•as
NEW COLOMBIAN
Goldsraid posted
Eachange yester
`a+n. F. and A.
. the lientlenten of
a confidential agent i
the purpme of r
otry, and that th.
ieutleinen who a
mill please to send

'ew Greek Lo:
as was general]
'• These Gentle
countenance, an,

el much pleast
actively employ
raised in the Pii

meat to the memory o
'eneral Sir Thomas Pic
Capt. A. D. Y. Arhut
wing, 18, from the
the crew of the la
—int sword and
commander. The

superbly embroiders
LIMA, SUPT. 10.—( f
` see by the Gsvttes
entered La Paz, a it
'pendence was prod
joined by General
Salta and Tacuman.
in Arequipa. It
:z were in or near C
rar arrived from Gt
try, and leaving tro
men. He has to-d

and a very hands
carry on the war wit
as he deserves, with
festivities and rej...:
are always hung w
is not the man to Le it
the balls, dinners, &c
do not expect him to
he will act against th
ieve little business hi
oonsequencT of a re
Mayor has appoin
city, on Friday nc:
-it for the nieliorl

in his Nlajesty:
is said that accounts
of a late date, whirl
restored to traminilli
Smith, the 3lissinnar:
nse Or Lot:llS.—.l
for hearing an
Chancellor took
The hearing of
Thrre w?re pr
Walsinghnm, tho
to the new l':%vtll
the causes and et
attracted many oi hcr
•, and remaimd
• s7st great as on :it
kept constair
Cratutoun, an(
ir. 11!onaieli* uo
tbrir Lordship
this ytar tin re
bags of Cotton
Were at this time !ast
'reported that itit'asul
Jut a chain sugpensimi
one at Brighton.—.11

D.ATE 0
.-was held
of the Ale
England u
; ant. per a
(i New C
ir• 1. L. Gel.'
1. :tack Eat}
"L Mesas.
t inform the
4tand a confi
boa, foe the
t country,
hone Genii
sewed will p
patrible."
The Neu
Raring, as
nesday. T
much coun
success.
feel
is now acti
already raise
meat to the
General Sir
Capt. A.
Redwing, It
day, the cre'
• lagnificent
to comma]
• It superb!)
LIMA, Si
ill see by tl
entered 1
ep..rulence
joined 1
, Salta and
as in Areq
aldez wini•
'livar arrive
valry, and
000 men.
ants, and a
carry on t
re as he des
t festivities
is are aluu
is not the
the balls,
y do not es
y he will at
here little
conseque.
y Alayot
this city, or
liament foe
lation in 1
t is said th
of a late
ly restored
t Smith), th
nuaa OP
day for
Lord ('ha
1. The
Th
and IVa!sii
nt to th,
ty of the ca
attracted
• t, and rei
about as gt
rangers"
rey, Air. Cr:
• Mr. A!
rioting di(
'ready this
'her of bags
e were at th;
is reported
out a chait
'e one st 11,4

f

laturc
' that
• have
[Mutes
f tun-
a great
worthy

v ith a
oPrs-
arrence
Itlonan
.o curt'

that a
ncc and
d wag°
luselves
rytion.
tele

statutes ; on the contrary, machinery of the most compli-
cated and cumbrous description is every day exported. Mr.
liutne's motion for a reference to a Select Committee, we
arc glad to say, was carried, and the Membem to compose
it named ; among whom were—the mover, Mr. Hume, Mr.
Iluakiason, Mr. C. (:rant, the Attorney-General, Mr.
Frankland Lewis, Mr. Grey &nett, Mr. Stuart Wortley,
Mr. Peter Moore, Mr. Thomas Wilson, Sir That. 1). Ac-
land, and others. The business committed to their charge
is a must important one, and will, we trust, be soccessinl
in their hands; it is closely connected with the bust in-
terests and prosperity of the country ; the welfare of the
labouring classes is in a great degree committed in the
result.