The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1826-02-17 00:00:00

CORN LAWS.

VESTRY MEETING AT ST. LUKE'S.
A Vestry Meeting was yeeterday held at St Luke's, old-street,
to take into consideration the propriety of petitioning Parliament
for a repeal of the Corn Laws. The Meeting we. numerous and
respectable.
At ten o'clock Mr. PonvEn, one of the churchwardens, took
the Chair. He briefly stated the object of the Meeting, adverting
to the great population of that parish, and the enormous inereatte of
pooreeates in it as justifying it. in coming forward the first to pet!.
tion for the repeal of the Corn Laws He theta pointed to a series of
Resolutions prepared with this view by Mr. John Willies, which
should be sibmittNl to the sense of the Meeting.
The Resolutions having been read—
Mr. WILKES proceeded to discuss the general merits of the
Corn Laws in a speech of great force and elopence. These laws,
he said, were likely to survive all the restrictive regulations in our
commercial code ; and yet these were the laws, In the repeal of
which the community at large felt the deepest and most imme-
diate interest. In the existence of these laws, and In the unsteadi-
ness and vacillation of Government, were to be found the main
sources of the present overwhelming distrese--distrese, the de.
placable extent of which could hardly be conceived, but of which
he might convey a faint idea, when he related, that he reckoned
ruining his acquaintance persons who were last year worth 41100/. er
00001. per ann. and were now reduced to a state of abject want and
wretchedness. Ministers at the close of the war introduced a gold cur-
rency, but shortly after they yielded to the outcry of the agricultural
holy ; they altered their system, and permitted the paper issues of
country banks; the object and operation of which were to raise the
price of agrieuitural produce. They deviated from a sound
system, in subserviency to the views of the landed proprietors, and
allotted the country to be deluged with • currency pregnant with
calamity to all besides. The Corn Laws also were an advantage
conceded to the proprietors of the soil, at the expense of ill the
other classes of the community. But who were those proprietors ?
The highest number at which they had ever been rated in the
United Kingdom was 70,000, and If this number were multiplied
by 5, so as to include their families, then 360,000 would be the
number of those, who in the midst of • population of twenty.nne
millions, felt an interest in maintaining the monopoly of corn.
Their gain then, it was evident, was the loss the rest of the
community. It was a part of the general property given up and
abandoned to the despoilers But the amount also of this gain
might be in some measure ascertained. The price of corn, though
it had been as high as 901. might be taken at an average at Om
per quaver. Now he had ascertained that an abundant supply of
corn might, if our ports were open to receive it, be permanently
procured at 525. The difference then of these prices, or 13s. per
quarter, was the benefit of the !ended proprietots, levied as it were
on the rent of the community, and the anneal amount of this
benefit was no less a sum than ten millions. Ten mile
lions was the sum which a privileged few were allowed to
take from the purses of their fellow-citizens, and what ag.
gravated the injustice. this exaction fell more directly on the
class which was least able to support it. The price of bread
was of little importance to a man who had 6000/. a year ; it was an
inconsiderable item among his numerous expense. ; but the poet
labourer, on the other hand, laid out four-fifths of his scanty wages
in the purchase of bread alone ; upon him, therefore, fee all the
weight of this oppressive monopoly, and the interested represent.
ations of a few prevailed with Ministers to sacrifice the comfort and
happiness of the great massoi the community.. This was a strange
state of things to subsist in an age, and under ao administration,
which boasted of its commercial liberality. It 6linieters were able
:e introduce • free and enlightened system into our intercourse
wi:h foreign nations, why could they sot rescue us from the tyran.
ny of monopolies at home ? But what had they done ? They had
withdrawn protection from the silk and glove trade ; they had let
in the competition of France with sonic of our staple manufactures,
and consequently lied brought upon the manufacturers the deepest
and most irreparable distress. Whetever might be the speculative
advantages of liberal policy, it appeared to him that Ministers
ought to have painted before they adopted measures which affected
the employment,. and consequently the subsistence, of' so many
thousands. But no considerations, he thought, could justify this
change of policy ; no circumstances could render it expedient, un-
less the repeal of the Corn Laws had been made a preliminary
measure. The comMit and well-being of the great toms of the
people ought to have been first consulted, and then the sub.
ordinate interests of the various classes might have Mllowed
in due succession. But Ministers said, the benefits of
a liberal commercial policy will return upon ourselves; when
we open our ports to receive the productions of foreign nations,.
we enable them to became in return purchasers of our manufac.
turd ; we ensure a larger market for the produce of our industry."
This was a fine theory, but it was at variance with the practiee
of Ministers, whose schemes of opening new markets for our
manufactures were rendered nugatory by the operation of the
corn laws. Those countries of Europe, as Poland and Prussia
for instance, which had most need of our manufactures,
could not purchase from us, because we refused to receive their
wheat; and untie; this system a large portion of the capital of these
countries was diverted from agriculture to manufactures, so that
instead of being our customers they were becoming our Avail.
But in defence of the Corn Laws it was urged that they were tie-
ceesary to the agricultural interest: this phrase seemed to involve
sone mighty advantages, to embrace 6003 d numerous planiou of
the community. In like manner the Catholic priest styled leis own
gains and his own dogmas the interests of religion. The West
Indian proprietor screened his slaves and his monopoly with the
broad epithet of the Colonial interest; and thus the name of the
agricultural interest seemed to throw a mysterious sanctity round
the most baneful of monopolies: nor let it be said that in repealing
the Corn Laws we undo what the wisdom of our ancestors has esta-
blished. He (Mr. Wilkes) had the greatest respect for the wisdom
which dictated our commercial code; the great wealth and power
of this empire were not the results of any physical superiority (for
what signified the extent and population of these two islands) but
they were the consequences of that protection given to our com-
merce by the able statesmen of Eliaabettee days—statesmen with
whom Chatham or Canning might not be ashamed to be
compared. But it was vain to appeal to the wisdom of mut
ancestors; their enactments had been infringed; their maxims
for the encouragement of our trade had been violated, and
the Corn Laws, to the aid of which they were Invoked, was
not established by then., but were of recent origin. It was also a
mistake (he continued) to suppose that the repeal of the Corn JAWS
would work an injury to the farmers ; on the contrary, the profit of
the farmer, which might in general be taken at ore-fifth of the pm
duce of the land, was sure to be diminished as the price of that
produce rose, from their increased expenditure in capital and stock.
In fact, the question was, whether they would have the loaf cheap
or dear--a question which the farmers with the rest of the commu..l
nity would feel it their interest to answer in the affirmative. There
was but one class of men then who benefited by this state of things
—that was the body of landed proprietors. They had hitherto in.
tercepted all the advantages of our commercial legislation. But
it was to be hoped that the country was now awake to the disad-
vantages of these laws. This was the most favourable juncture ea
urge their repeal. The experience of history testified that rasa
submitted with patience to the inflictions of Heaven; they bowed
with resignation to the scourges of plague and famine, but oboe
human interference, when the wicked agency of man thwarted, their
destinies, they then shook off their inertness, and punished the
temerity which threatened to make life a cone. The prevent state
of affairs, and enormous increase of poor.rates, indicated such a
ensis. The repeal of the corn laws would, he had calculated, re.
duce the poor rates in their parish alone, by no less a sum than 70
or 100 thousand pounds. It was the duty of all to speak who could
speak. It was not those alone who held the helm of the State who
felt an interest in guiding Ler into security, but every man who
had embarked hie all in that vessel ought to use his utmost me.
tions to save her from plunging into irrecoverable ruin. Nothing
but the voice of the country could accomplish tithe end. alinistera
were well disposed to consult the interests of the people, but they
were overawed. Such men as Canning and Iluskisson were too
enlightened to entertain any other sentiments, and he had hitneelf
seen Lord Liverpool in the House of Lords, not merely entreating but
begging as a boon, the repeal of the Corn Laws, and yet he could
not even obtain a short suspension of them. But the voice of the
people declaring their sentimems might perhaps liberate their en.
lightened Minister.' from the shackles of aristocratic influence, and
thus contribute to the repeal of the Corn Laws, which in a natural
state of things would disappear as chaff before the fire. Ministers
may be afraid to express their opinions to the landed interest in
the face of a general election ; but this is the very juncture when
the country ought to declare its wishes, since the verymanifestation
of them now is a step towards their attainment.—(This speeeh was'
listened to with pleasure, and was concluded amidst great applause.)
The resolutions, the last of which had for its object the petition-
ing of Parliament, a ere then read seriatim, and agreed to. Thanks
were then given to the Chairman and Mr. Wilkes, and after some
desultory conversation in which it was agreed to advertise the
Resolutions in the :doming Papers, the meeting separated.

RETVGE FOR Tax DERTITUTE.—The friends of this
excellent institution dined yesterday at the City of London
Tavern, to celebrate the nineteenth anniversary. In the
absence of his Royal highness the Duke of York, who
was prevented by his delicate state of health from at-
tending, Mr. Justice Gaselee filled the Chair. Ile was
supported by the Lord Bishop of Litchfield and Coventry,
Lord Bolton, and other noblemen and gentlemen. The
Bishop of Litchfield, in proposing the heath of the worthy
Chairman, took occasion to advert to the object of the In-
stitution: which is to provide a place of refuge and refor-
mation for persons who have been discharged from prisons
and the hulks, and others, who though willing to work,
are unable from lout of character to earn an honest sub-
sistence. Ile said it was a maxim long attributed to
Britain, that she conquered to save, and in the same
spirit it might be said of justice, that she punished`only to
rescue. A number of musical gentlemen attended, and
enlivened the meeting by the exertion of their vocal
powers. Towards the close of the evening a subscription
was entered into, and the company separated at a late
hour, after an evening passed in the exercise of bene-
volence, which was unalloyed by any admixture of party
or sectarian feeling.
A iJiocking accident happened on board the Dublin
steam-packet, arrived at Liverpool on Wednesday. 'On
the passage, the engineer having taken a little too much of
t to nutive, as it is supposed, got entangled with the MS-
c finery, and his head was crushed to pieces.

COURT OF COMMON COUNCIL.

Yesterday a Court was held tOr the ronsiderstinn of several
special matters, including among their number notices bf motion
respecting the Corn Laws, Assessed Taxes, and the Bankrupt
lams.

CORN LAWS.
Mr. FAVELL rose for the pitrpose of observing that the Motion,
of which he had given notice for that day, (lid not mind first in the
paper; but as it was a (location of such "Test importance, namely,
to consider the propriety of petitioning Parliament on the subject
of the Corn Laws, and for the repeat of the Assessed Taxes, lie
trusted that the gentleman who had the advantage of him (Mr.
resell) in point of priority, would allow his motion respecting the
present State of the Bankrupt lows to stand over until the question
respecting the Corn Laws and A . d Taxes was disposed of;
he did not mean to say that the motion of that gentleman was not
one of greet moment, but considering the present state of the coun.
try, it was very desirable that the question respecting the Corn
Laws should come on first.
Mr. S. Dixort said that there was a regular and an irregular
way of doing business, and a departure from the usual course would
be attended with inconvenience. It was quite impossible that the
business of the Court could go on unless to its regular course ; he
therefore hoped the Lord Mayor would not depart from the usual
practice, and he could not help remarking that the gentleman op-
posite, who made this request, always considered his own motion
of most consequence.
The LORD MAYOR said that as the question respecting the
Corn Laws would necessarily occupy • considerable time, he
thought it would perhaps be better that a day should be particu-
larly appointed for the consideration of tlie subject; and he was very
willing to name Thursday next for that purpose.
Mr. Alderman Writ rttstax rose to say he could not possibly
consent to this arrangement. The question as to the Corn Laws
was one of the most pressing nature, seeing the state of the coun-
try and the proceedings of Parliament; he therefore hoped the
gentleman who had given notice of the motion as to the Bankrupt
Laws would give way, or if that was not the case, then, that as that
question night not occupy much time it should come on imme-
diately after It. It was of the greatest consequence that this matter
should be proceeded in, seeing that as yet Parliament had not
taken any measures against the joint.stoek companies, and he
could tot refrain from stating, that were they not noticed' in Par.
Harnett, it was his intention to propose that a petition should be'
presented for their suppression. The question ofjoint.stodk corn.
parties was connected with that of the Corn Laws, for in last Session
of Parliament Ale. fluskisson had said, that in consequence of the
many projects-on foot tOr the establishment of joint-stock com-
panies, it was not a proper time to bring forward the question o
the Corn Laws.

Alter some conversation between several Members, it was de-
termined that the question should come on on Thursday next.

NEW LONDON BRIDGE.
Mr. JONES brought up the Report of the Bridge Committee,
and stated that, at the laying of the first stone, when a considerable
number of scientific gentlemen were present, it was suggested by
one of them, a gentleman of great respectability, that the new
bridge ought to be wider than the proposed plan contemplated.
This gentleman's proposition was considered by the Committee, and
as the improvement would entail a considerable additional expense,
they therefore thought it necessary to apply to the Lords Commis-
sioners of his Majesty's Treasury on the subject of an additional
gram, to assist in carrying this improved plan into operation. The
proposition was most graciously received by their Lordship, and he
(Mr. Jones) could not but express his sense of obligation for the
great kindness with which their Lordships received the proposals
of the Committee. Indeed, the conduct of their Lordships was
moat gratifying. They not only consented to advance 42,0001-under
the sanction of Parliament, but said that it was proper and right to
apply. At the same conference their Lordships consented to a Bill
being brought in to enable the Committee to raise 160,0001. upon the
Bridge Horse estates, and that their Lordships might have the
power to lend money for the carrying on the work. The draught of
a petition to Parliament to that effect was then read.
Mr. DizoN aecoaded the reception of the Report, and said that
it would have been a great oversight to have the bridge so narrow
as was originally proposed, alien the approaches to it were to be of
such large dimensions. The increased width of six feet would be
a great accommodation.
The Report was then agreed to, as was the petition.

BAILIFF OF SOUTHWARK.
Mr. Hick rose to propose that the Court should take into its
consideration the salary of the High Bailiff of Southwark, whom
he described as a most deserving officer, and who had been in the
service of the Corporation for a period of forty.six years. When
he was officially appointed, the salary and emoluments amounted to
between 1300/. and 14001. per annum, but from an alteration that
had taken piece. it did not yield more than 31101. The office was a
most important one ; and as a General Election was about to take
place, he wished that the Bailiff; as the returning officer, should
be placed in a:situation of respectability in point of income. In
mentioning the salary of other officers of the City he did not wish
to appear Invidious, but he could not help remarking that the
keeper of Giltspur-street CoMpter enjoyed 8001. a year, and of
Newgate 10001.; and each of them had residences found them. He
would therefore propose that the salary of the Bailiff of Southwark
should bilked at. OW. per annum.
A Member,whose name we could not learn, seconded the motion,
and remarked that he was exceedingly sorry that, by a late Act of
' Parliament, between 600/. and 7001. per annum had been taken
from the officer in question, and therefore it was that It became
necessary for him to came to that Court to fix the amount
of salary.
Mr. S. DIXON said that, as yet, nothing had been said as to the
character of the individual. A more upright man, or one in whom
integrity of heart coupled with every feeling that could do honour
to human nature, did not exist. In his (Mr. Dixon's) opinion,
800!. a-year was not sufficient, at the same time hedid not rely
alone on the merit of the individal for whom tlie increase was asked.
It appeared that the fees of this office had been double what was
now proposed, and he should be glad to know how the case stood
as to the Court of Requests, the power of which Court hail been ex-
tended, for the recovery of small debts, from forty shillings to five
pounds; that circumstance ought to have brought additional sums
Into that Court, but in that supposition he (31-r. Dixon) had been
disappointed, and he very much regretted that the City of London
should be chargeable with any expense for the borough. Many
fears ago, application had been made to Parliament to reduce the
ees, and part of the bill went to regulate the salary of the bailiff,
that the then bailiff should receive 7501., at his death that it
should be reduced to 5001., and deducting the expenses to which
he was liable, it left the salary at only 3501.
air. Alderman WAITH MAN said that he could bear testimony
to the character of the individual in question, he had had many op.
portunities of serving that individual, and as to his character, there
could not be two opinions, but still he (31rAVaithroan) had another
and imperative duty, which was to guard the public purse. If this
were sanctioned the Court might be called upon to double the salaries
not only of this but other situations, and totted he must say, that
there were no circumstances stated that could justify such a grant
as that. It was a most extraordinary thing to see a bailiff taking
so much trouble to get rid of the fees of his office, and then to tome
down to that Court for an increase of his salary. If the Court were
to look to his talents and respectability, it might be said, make it
1,6001.. but would the Court be justified in doing ye? Was there not
now the greatest difficulty felt in obtaining money for public uses ?
For one he (NI r.Waithman) would oppose the measure even though
he should stand alone; at the same time he did not say that he would
entertain the question hereafter, at present it did not come in a way
that it could be sanctioned. Ile had never known an loin:Ace of
such an application being made but that it was referred to a com-
mittee. One gentleman had Raid that the increase in question was
but the weight of a feather. It might be so, but still it would be
an incumbrance. The City were called upon to do magisterial
duties in the Borough, to appoint the officers, and then to make up
the difference of salaries without the slightest possible necessity
existing that such circumstances should take place at all, and these
were the only connexions existing between the City and thallo-
rough. The more respectable the officer the greater difficulty was
there in acting, because any opposition to the measure appeared
invidious In regard to hits. In this instance, certainly, he was
bound to express his opinion that the individual in question was a
moat useful, meritorious, and excellent officer. For one, he (Mr.
NFaithman) should wish that this question should go to a corn.
mittee, because the committee might consider whether there were
not some other means by which the measure might be effected, so
that the salary should not be chargeable on the puree of the City of
London.
31r. Bic x said he had not the least objection to the matter going
to a committee; but lie must say, that if members did not make
themselves acquainted with the tubject, it was not his fault; the
accounts of the office were presented and sworn to every year.
Mr. Jr)); ES made a few observations, when it war referred to a
Committee to intluire into the Salaries and Emoluments of the
High Bailiff; Officers, and Clerks of the Borough of Southwark.