The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1821-09-15 00:00:00

AT A NUMEROUS MEETING OF OCCUPIERS OF
LAND within the Hundred of SCARSDALE, in the
County of Derby, constituting " The Formers Club"
there, held at the Red Lion ton, in Chesterfield, on Satur-
day the Isl of September, 1821;
JOHN GRATTON, Jun. in the Choir;
The following Resolutions were unanimously agreed to
AT this Alerting having taken into consi-
M. aeration the Report of the Select Committee of the
House of Commons, to whom the several Pentiums com-
plaining of the depressed stale of Agriculture were referred
(dated Mb heeled), And, that the Repent sets out with
acknordedgbig (at page 1), "that the complaintiof the Pe-
titioners ere fonnded lie fact, is as, farm they represent that
at the present price of Corn, the returns to the occupiers of
arable firms are by no means adequate to their charges and
outgoings—of which a considerable proportion can be paid
only out of the capitals, and nut out of the profits of the
teseenery."—And (at page 12) the badness of the present
system of Curti Laws is thus happily admitted and exposed,
viz. "That the present system of Corn Laws is liable to
sudden alterations—the effect of which may, at owe lime, be,
to reduce prices, already low; and at another, to enhance
priers, already high—to aggravate the evils of scarcity, and
to render more severe the depression of prices from abun-
dance. That, on the one baud, it deceives the grower with
the false hope of mouopol)—on the other hand, it holds
out • prospect of an occasional free trade, but so re-
gulated, as to bolts all calculations of the English grower
and dealer. That it involves the merchant id more lima
ordinary risks—exposes the markets of the country tither
to be occasiooally overwhelmed with an inundation of
foreign Corn (altogether disproportionate to its wants), or
(in the crest of any considerable deficiency in our harvest),
it creates a sudden competition on the Continent; by the
rife et of which the prices there, are rapidly and unnecessarily
raised against ourselres. That the inconvenient operatiou
of the present Corn Laws, is not confined to great fluctuations
is price, and consequent embarrassment both to the grower
and consumer, for that the occasional prohibitive of import,
has a direct tendency to contract the extent of our ctioner-
cisl dealings with foreign States, and to excite (iu the Rulers
of those State,), a spirit of permanent exclusion against
the productions or manorectures of this country, and its
Colonies. That a large and sudden influx of Cum might
(snider cireanhlanees) create a temporary dersugement iu
the course of exchange, the rife it, of which (after the re-
sumption of Cash P.synients) might lead to a drain of specie
from the Bank—a consequent coutractiou of its circulations,
and a panic among country banks—all aggravating the dim
tress of a yuldie dearth, as leas been experienced, at
former periods of scarcity."—Aud, lastly (at name page),
That the present system of our Corn Lana may bc" (moiler
eireurustaures) " not only slightly at violence with, but in
direct opposition to the principle on which it is founded!!"
THAT the evils of the present Coro Laws being thus ably
deem ihed by the Report isa "'unison, the Committee them
proceed (at pages IS and 16), and chew an anxiety, " to
impress spine the attention of the House of Cumneusis the
real state of our trade in foreign Corn, between the years
1773 mod 1814, as it appeared to them, !skeet in connexion
a its the general prosperity in eke country, and more espe-
cially with the great improvements in agriculture, and its
highly flourishing condition during that period—end to sug-
gest to Pamirs/nein (as a meow highly deserving of future
consideration.) whettnr a trade iu Corn, coustautly open to
all the world (and :abject only to each 'aired defy as
*weld compensate to the grower the kits of that encourage-
ment which lie received during the late war, from the ob-
stacles throwu iii the way of foe Importation, mid thereby
pr•steet the capitals now vested in agriculture, from an un-
equal competition in the Mime market)—is out (al a perms.
..cut system) preferable to thnt date of law by which the
Corn Trade is now regulated!"
THAT, after the above must able exposition by the Coin-
mitt e .tithe House of Commons of the numerous evils of
the present it 'omit Laws; and after the above most valuable
suggest", of their, w the House, of again returning (at a
future day) to a protecting duty (is was the law of the
land, during the 41 years of general prosperity in the
country, and of the great improvement coed flourishing coo-
dition, of agriculture, before alluded to, viz. from 1773 to
IN14), this Alerting deeply deplores, and is also much ills-
appointed and surprised, to see it stated by the C-umesisiter,
" that the present is not the fit moment fur attempting such
a change," amid (at purge t%) " that they bare nut been able
to discover any means, which, in their eatiwistion, are eal-
maenad imenceliattly to restore the present presume."

Neither flllll thsis Meeting subscribe to the statement (at
page It) of the K. poet, that the BruitJs grower of cora has
to effect enjoyed a monopoly (u the haute mar►el) fur the
two last bsi vests, merely became /he port.: (with mu excels.
taus as to oats:) hose boos unlalensrpledly shut easie►t
furrigu impost, for ucas 7U usuuths—fur though Ibis Nett-