The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1819-07-30 00:00:00

YORKSHI HE ASSIZES.

YORK, MONDAY, JULY 26.
CROWN SIDE.

Mr. Justice BATLEY, after having congratulated
the Grand Jury of the city upon the happy absence
of all business for them, proceeded to the Castle to
try the county prisoner'.
Lord Milton is Foreman of the Grand Jury; Mr.
Stuart Wortley, the other Member for the county,
was also present. The proclamation against vice, pro-
fanesirss, and immorality, wets read in the usual form.
Mr. Justice B•YL£Y charged the Grand Jury
respecting the more important cases in the calen-
dar, and made the usual remarks upon the evidence
of accomplices, and the mode of proceeding where
doubts existed upon their anode. His Lordship
then observed, that, although no particular case
presented itself in the calender;to call for any ob.
eversion' from him respecting the state of the
county, yet that recent occurrences warranted him
in calling upon them to apply their attention and
vigilance to the 'object. He regarded the state
of the country with no sentiment of alarm ; but
as it was tawny, better to exercise prevention thou
to apply itateisliuweit, lie felt himself justified io
offering a few observations. They knew the real
state of this cevoty much better than he could
pretend to know it, and lie entertained no doubt
that they exercised their best diligence to re-
move every ground of complaint. Their at.
teatime was required both to alleviate distress
where it really existed, and to prevent the evil-
desigiiuig from evading thenseeltl'es of inch die.
tress, ui order to introduce disaffection. The very
worst frigid of the poor man was he that codes-
voureit to, make him discontented with his situa-
tion. Much distress was said to exist in the manu-
facturing districts; they knew whether that was so
or .not. The employment of our manufacturers
depended upon the demand for their manufacturer.
This demand arose, either from foreign countries,
front our own Government, or from individuals at
home. The demand of Government was twees.airily
less' in time of peace than in time of war, when the
army and navy were on a much larger reale. The de•
mend of foreign countries depended entirely on the
interests and wants of misuse countries ; and it could
not be found that those interests and wants were now
less favourable to the manufactures of this country
times at former periods. With respect to the de.
mends of private individuals, they were at least us
great as at any former period. The higher ■nd
middle classes consumed the manufactures pro.
duced by the labour of the lower classes. Ac-
cordingly, they would find 'list places were gems-
rally more populous, and supported their papa.
lation beite;r now than Se years ago. It, therefore,
the►e was local distress felt, he hoped it would be of
a temporary•oature. • It was a mailifeat fact that this
country now exported a Winch gresterquantity of its
manufactures than at any former period. It was a

fsirrurileoploion with assWp..liwit tawatiess so Ore
.r.,Www of all the distress expesiesseed is any part of
tbe country; but if it could be *hewn that the
lower classes derived their employment and tom.
forts from taxation, it could not be fairly alleged
that they wee prejudieed by taxation. It wis
deniable that the prosperity of the country hail
increased its exact correspondence with the increase
of the national debt. About 40,000,000/. annually
were by Means of oar national debt and taxation
circulated 6,0..0 the country. affording capital for
great undertakings, creating credit and confidence,
and diffosing amour; all classes industry and wealth.
If no national debt had been accumulated, and sc.
cumulated to an immense extent, where could the
.money roved by individual. he disposed oft It
would either lie dormant, and thus industry would
he checked, and enterprise enervated; ry it would
be conveyed to foreign countries, and this country
would be reduced to the unhappy situation of be-
holding with envy and regret acne other country
flourishing by means of capital to which we gave
no employment. These were not hasty notionr,
which he had adopted in consequence of recent
events; they were the deliberate and long-establish.
ed conviction of his own miud. and he had come
to that couvictiou after the fullest consideration of
the ablest writers on the subject. lie did not at
the biome time dictate this conviction of his mind as
binding the opinions of others; but it was his ho.
nest and yorocieutious opinion. and he wished that
opinion to be distinctly ksiown—that this country
was really in a flourishing coudition, and that there
was no foundation for alarm or for complaint.