The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1821-09-27 00:00:00

Timms Plowlnn, lis+ caned in and exiinsinner.

Whet is your prafeasion!—l may say 1 am interested as
a manufacturer, I am interested as a !matted proprietor, and
I certaiuly reel interested its the welfare of the merchant as
the friend to both. lam interested more me a nasnufteurer
than as a landed proprietor. I leave been an eateesive laud
agent, and was bred originally to the law.
Do you know the present stale of hewed as to myriad.
tarot ilteress?— I do.
State it to the Committee?-11 conceive the state of the
tenantry of Irclaud to be oar of extreme distress indeed,
from their abiatiting a inadequate prier fur the productions
of the soil.
Hiss that dirt's,' increased since last year ?—Yea,, 5 ewe-
crier it lOW increased ist the last year; but front Ifni it bee
be en very !teat.
You mean that it hegair in 1814 !—Yes. _

Cau you state any other causes of that distress than the
low price of corn ?—t conceive the distress in Ireland so b•
gametal, and an g 1, that I feel it would he enure otitis-
' fammy to take noiew of the distress generally, cuureiving
the agricultural distress to be she basis of it.
Have you mode any ralentsdients ?-11'ith respect so the
last year, I bare gm • ealeulation made by • very intelli-
gent ;milt...lips, who is S.errlary hi the Warming Society in
Irvland, to whom I applied on the mihjeet.
Does he attend in Ire twinvined?—Yea; he is not here at
thin moment, hot he is in London.
%Vas that statement inadv iu csiumorrenee with yuur own
opinion ?—errtateily.
lie you b. hear is to he correct ?-11 do.
_ _

Tun cuusultril ur. ibllklilre in order In ratifier", your own
*pinion )—Precisely so; we fully concurred lii that view of it.
Can you state the average priers of wheat, barley, mud
oats, iu the porta of Ireland on the b..einuing of alit'
month ?—Yea t have taken the statement hawked me front
particular retursia.

What return" do ran refer to!—The different make, notes
of the ;spree in verb nistket ; the average prices of she eurn
001.1 iu the different markets are publisher! in Ike news-
papers; from them that statement i. taken.
lion many markets me inelatle.l Weds,. paper ?—II cannot
esattly charge my memory; I prepared Met calculation from
document', sod can vouch fur Its accuracy.
Can yuca state what the avenge price of wheat was
on the 3tl of the present month ?-42.t. 9d. Irish, making in
British mon. y at par 394 41,1. per quarter British.
What was the price of oats?-13s. 7.1. Irish, ME 5.33.
&ilia' per cpuwter, and for barley Mk. id. British per

Du you eonerire those prices remunerate the fanner ?
Cr. taioly nut.
What priers do yogi suppose would, afford the furor, • fair
profit, and enable hum to pay his rent ?—I should suppose
about 755. British, per quarter fur wheat ; for odds, about
30r.; and fur barley. about 40s.

In what state is the general culfivation of Ireland at pre-
sent, with respect to n comparison of three years ago?—
I cannot say that the cultivation of the country bas retro-
graded ; the higb pie* in the year 1617, I think, pee as
impulse to the agriculture of the country; bat it is quite
clear, that if the present prices continue, the farmers world
look to converting their land into pasture. as the present
prices me quite inadequate to t►e expense of growing corn.
Yuu reside in 11. e county of Killtrony do.
lit that comity they make a considerable use of lime?—
They do.
Ms the consumption of lime decreased ?—Yery consider-
ably; and there is one good criterion whereby to judge of
that fact, they burn the lime in the county of Kilkenny see
she adjoining counties sills main, oletaitied ia the collieries
of Castlecomir; and the person who manage. th.•se col-
lieries has informed me, that the demand for clam has Fatima
of almost entirely.
Ha. that demised fallen of in consurence of farmers not
having the mosey to hey it ?—Certainly.
Kilkenny is a great wheat county ?—Yes; and Carlow and
Tipmrary, with all which I am arquaintesi.
Do they burn the lime with turf in Kilkenny ?—lfel is
that county, because there are no turf hogs in It.
In this year the eapertution of wheat has been pester
Aso usual ?—Yes.

From what bus that proceeded?—From the abundant har-
vest of last year.
Has not the farmer been more disposed to capon his
wheat than his oats, from the very low price of oils ?—Yes.
Am not the importation very moth eithawsted the quantity
of wheat in Ireland conceive it has.

Is dive, much grain in hand, of the last crop is Ireland?
—lndeed I should infer not, from the great poverty of she
farmers, snob their ansirty to convert shattver shey have
into wary.
Yrra have had Iwo good years for reheat in keland?—We
have; Ilse corn was earrllout ; I have some specimens of
the corn of the lasi harve►t.
In what state is she cattle market is Irekts I—fl is be.
gi g now to revive; is was greater' depresses., so much
so, that I understand the graziers sustained a total luso of a
year's resit, obtaining for their fat milt scarcely She prices
they paid for their wore*. _ _

. -
Do you know whoher any of the ratite that were sent
from BitMinato, to FaitMod, not being Rifle to find
market, returned beck agate ?—I cannot say that t have
heard that lam.

Do )ou know what were Ike pr,eca of cattle, according to
the DAt return from B2llimalue ?-1 cannot state from Ob 4,
tarry.
_ _

Ca'n ynu omit as in the pnyment of entc'—t roo.

State in what condition the farmers are, as to the payment
of their rents ?—Since the year 1813, rents base been very
badly paid in Ireland. 1 conceive that the high prices of
1800 and 1801 ',pirated as a great inducement to the eaten.
stun of tillage in Ireland; then the war rommencing in
1093, and euntiuoireg till 1814, operated to increase that ex-
tame.° ; ■nd during that peeled, the farmer was certainly
prosperous is Ireland. Ile paid tons'ihrable rents, which
the landlord expended liberally, both in employment sad in
the consumption of manufacturea.
Then, in fact, since 1814, the rents hive fatten considem-
bly!—Yes; after the capture of Parris, a most extraordina►y
charge touk place; the price of ail produre fell to such •
degree, that 1 know un some relates die tenantry conceived
the snub they had received fur their corn so trifling, that it
was not worth while to pay it to the landlord, and they ex.
rend. d it in the airborne, mid nn other enjoyments.
Had not the growth of wheat, iPUM tie year 1809 In the
prow ►Bl4, berm extend. to many parts of Ireland where
*beat was never gnaws' before entertain some doubts op-
en the militia as to the eastern ports, but b,Re►e it was the
more in the stealers parts of Ireland, with which I ■m not
well arcpwainteel; I have au doubt it did extend is Galway,
mod the neighbouring 'auntie..
Was nut wheat growa during the high prices nn land that
woad not, in the cognition course of things, have been se-
lected to gruw wheat upon ?—Certainly.
What epees has the distresaer? state of !wirehaire had
impost the conauomption of ntasitifsetores of Ireland ?—lo
serious, that I conceive mom of she men of basioess in Ire-
land have suffered severely. 1 have an opportunity of buns.
lag a good deal about the situation of ille retailers and other
stew of business in Ireland, and from the great poverty of
the farmer, he has returned to a state of the moat perfect
simplicity; he has laid down his boots and come to hrogoeN a
very inferior description of shoes; he has laid down his good
cloth, nod come to what is called cries., in Ireland. With
respect to the landlord, from the falling off of bit rents, Ile
Is unable to steal with the thopheeper 10 1,11 usual extent, or
if be dors deaf, he is nut able to pay him; ■at better it fol-
lows, that the retailer, front want of consumption or want
ol payment, is usable to purchase frum, or pay the mans'.
iscierr. 1 will add a fact, which I fiet to be material, to
ski" the mate of the retailers, a very impudent glass: stub
Is their Mate, that the meichaust has become himself, retailer,
from the difficulty of meeting with persona treat-worthy.-

meets, fur let, wise, and groterier, opened Sy Item' .eve
chests from else di/Acuity of dealing with retailers tv whose
they can intrust their properly.
There is a large establishment In the woolka beset* ear.
vied oa by a relation of yours?—There is.
That was thriving ?—lt war.
Is it row thriving ?—.lt wastalaed great difficulties the lest
roe, from a peat accumulative of stuck and other circular
stoners.
In what ►tate was the exchange between England and Ire-
land is the year 1111/4?—The exchange iu the year 1814 was
under per.
Ito. is the exchange now 7--The exchange is also ender
par, it is moderate at this moment.
Amour, for how the prosperity and adversity of Ireland
modneed the same egret?—With respect to the year 1814,
/am wet prepared to speak; I was on the Continent the
greater part of that year. In the year 1813, the exchaage
was trek, that 1001. Irish was worth 100 t. British.
Now was that produced?—By the great exputia, certainly.
How does it imppen at (his moment, that the exchange
is again moderate?—From Ile very elnindent harvest of last
year, sod our distress causing us to export every thing we
possibly could.
Ilan not the importation into Ireland of all goods
beets less in this year thins it probably was is. any pre-
ceding year?-1 are not prepared to say what it is in this
year; bet I am prepared to say, that is the peer 1113 we
imported into Ireland, of the manufactures of England, to
the amount of nearly fuer millions ; and in the years 1915
and 1616, that exportation All of to shunt a million and
a half.

Now has it been the fast year ?-1 have nut seen any re.
turn of it.
Can you stale what has been elm fall in rent* since tie
year 18r3?-14 is • difficult matter to say, rent, have been
amid so badly in general; ■nd in many institutes, scarcely
any reM at all has been paid.
Where it bas been paid, bag there ant been • very great
diminution of reale ?—Very great.
What do you hi here would be the consequence to Ireland,
of a c,iirtinualice of those low pekes of corn?—The conse-
quence would be, that the tenantry would not be able to
cultivate the lauds, winch must then r. tutu ve grass. Such
Would hr the consequence, with respect to douse lauds at
present in tillage.
Then if those prices were to continue, you conceive it
world throw out or cultivation a considerable proportion of
the I.Bl6l'l—Undoubtedly, that would be the fk-t effect, the
natural rffiret. The fanner is acted upon as every other per-
son is, by the eapectatina of profm ; and, cun•cgtseutly,
would ey from as systems attended with such extreme loos.
The despondency prevailing in Ireland at this moment is such,
that I cannot say what will be the consrg•cnre there is •
general feeling of despair pervading the tenantry of Prelanil.
On those farms on wb*ch rent has been paid since 181.3,
what has limn the fall in the rent?-1 conceive übuut one-
stied.

Was there ever more corn raised in Ireland than is now
raised there should tinagine the last year was as aline-
dant a year a- Ireland ever witnessed.
Is there say land taken out of cultivation in Ireland ?—I
conceive, that if it were not fur the prices of 1817, a great
portion of the tillage laud of Ireland would have gone oat
of cultivation. The losses of 1814 and 11115, made au
impression upon the farmer., that they must retort, to pas-
ture as soon as they possibly could. The failure of the har-
vest .t 1818, gore an impute which brought the plowgh into
action again.
Have you ever known wheat so low in Ireland as it is at
this nailitient ?—lo the year 1815, fancy it was as low,

Could airy cultivate it at a pro& iu the year MIS, at the
then prices?—Certainly out.
What could what be cultivated fiw, on the beat lanai of
Ireland, if no rem was paid fur the laud?-1 have made •
ealeulation; exclusive of rent, tithe, tax, and manure,
101. Is. an acre.

Talus% it with the deduction of the rent only, at bow
numb per quarter ?—flinty. five shilliotts a quarter.
You stair that wheat eau he raised at 7U. a quarter, and
that would be a remum•ratinS price to those who pay rent is
Ireland; at what price could it be raiss•d on the very beat
heed if they had not say Feat to pay ?—t am nut prepared
to answer that quesSius at this aeisent, ware fully them
have dune.

Can you suggest any mode of relief for the distressed state
of agriculture?-1 conceive that the effectual mode of re-
lieving the farmer, is to protect him effectually against fo-
reign competition.
to what aratoser would you protest him ?—The most
effectual wanner would be to prohibit fureigis corn •koge-
flier ; and I coomider the effect of that mraiute would b.,
the giving a direction to the capital of the cowrie', that
would very speedily not owly runtish an ado crate supply to
the United Kingdom, but un more reasonable terms, from
the increased growth which would then take plate.
Would the prohibiting the importation of torn, sink the
remuneratiag price below 75..?—1 conceive it would not du
it immediately; but that the effect of ion-sensed capital and
increased skill, which would be brought wee action foots
the security afforded against foreign competition, would
make corn amen reasonable, and still more peutitabie to the
farmer. There is nothing so iojurioas as the shucks to which
be has bees exposed in the last sever yeas..
The question referred, not to the state in which ke has
been fur the last seven years, but to the price which you
consider • remunerating price ?—I must retie to the lost
answer, as I du not feel itijrelf at this moment prepared to
make • more explicit one.
You have stated, that you think at the present dine, with
the charges to which ►he Irish former. is ►ubjected, and the
rent he has to pay, 15s. is • ►ewuueratiug price fur curls;
supposing • peulobition ow the importation, 'mold that
price of 755. be higher or lower than a remwserati•g price ?
—I conceive that if protected against foreigr competition,
the article would be brought into snorkel moon a foie pejo-
ciple, and the price would be regulated by the supply and
dems•d; bet the injurious effect of foreign competition
proceede not so mulch from the quantity of foreign corn im-
ported, as from the effect it has upon speculation. I eon-
Miler that prices hare bred very much regulated by the feel-
ing both of the purchaser and the seller. If the farmer, as
he was its the habit during the war, considered that earn sr RI
likely to rise, hr held hack, and by not supplying the market
too freely, the ressuaerating price was maintained; the pur-
chaser was penned also by his ealettlations, as to the pro-
bability of the supply heiog equal to the demand ; now they
feel no approbeuaion on that point, ow account of the int-
poriatiow of foreign eorn, sad the warehousing of large
quantities of foreign corn in this country.
Your answer is io relation to importations—the question
does not refer to impnrtatioss; you state that • certain price
is now necessary in order to remunerate the grower of corn
in Ireland; if there was an absolute prohibition against the
importation of corn, and there could be no competition,
wont! the remunerating prier be above or below 75s.?—The
ceamily, I apprehend, would io that ease be increased, and
the price will always be regulated by the amount of the
supply. I should be disposed to draw the conclusion, that
in progress of woe, protection agaiust competition,
would lead to the employment of capital and ►kill in that
pettiest/or branch,so as to cause that imeressed supply,which
worekl be calealated to reduce the vale, below 755. British.
Yuan hare stated, that rents since 1813, !MC fallen one.
third iu Ireland; coo you specify any instances of extensive
rentals collected with that diminution ?—h have spoken (eons
being an sgeat, and receiving rents; I have been a cousider-
able agent.

Yon are now ?-1 now 'intik the semisoft of agents, and
am confidentially consulted by landed proprietors, posarued
of Wastes to a very considerable aninnut.
You consider Ibr year 1313, the ;ear at which rents were
highest in Ireland ?—I do.
What were the rents in 1813, as compared with the rents
in 1193; were they double?-1 eunsirler them as double.
Were they more than stunible?-1 should out be surprised,
W in some lastarrees, they were; but I think gesieralay, the
rents had doubled between 179 d and 1813; when I speak of
stumbled, it merely relates to lands, the lease of which was
mask previews to 13102 and expired in 1813; they make lung
trues its Ireland.

If 'sod of a certain quality had been in 1791 let at 28s. an
acre, would it have let in 1813 at 4%. '—Cencrally speak-
it 1 think it might.

wttalJ ley between 1186, whet lard legs. la rise alter lie
American war, and 1813.
Is it now diminished one.third upon the rents of 1813 !
At keel; tad in fact as far as I could jonalge from the agents'
accounts 1 have examined, and farm the large arrears due,
it is impossible to form any opitaion what earrifires the laud.
lord may be idthstately Obliged to mate; I have known a
large tract of excellent torn laud let in the last pear, at Me
same rent it was let in the year 1788.
What was, in TB)3, the rent pet• Irish sere of the best are.
We land is Ireland ?—Abool bee. as mere ; if I say the heart
arable land, I have certainly know* about three guineas paid
for the /climb, not the statute acre.
What was the rise in the price of labour during that
period in Ireland think dogleg th■t period It doubled,
certainty.
Wks, were the wages of 'shore generally, in 18.130—They
vary according to the patttcolar seasons, io It t,
when the potatoes are digging ; / have knuett a reaper
pnkl se. a day sad get his food, p►evious to the year Dill;
and I have known the same man is the last year and for a
few years before, willing to work fur his food alone, without
any hire.
What was the common ►ale for common day labour on a
farm in 1813?—With the exception of the harvest and pota.
to digging, the business is usually done by cuttagers, who
are allowed a certain portion of land, and perhaps from led.
to To. a day; I think these were the wages of an :agricultural
labourer; but then daring Me harvest, or mowing, or
potato digging, he was paid f..r a short pm iod much higher.
Is. it much reduced nem that mitt ?_Very moth.
!That is he phi now for rutting 44.1%•11 or harvest ?-1 have
known in the last season men who were willing to work for
6d. to To. a day in the harvest time.
Do you think that Ireland sustains equal injury from the
importation. of fore** corn, geaesally, or do you think that
the ittjury it greater, from the luilux of any one species. of
grain rather than another consider that in the last year.
Ireland sustained the most set-ions loss by the importation of
oats into this country.
Is there any extetsalae trade in malt carried on between
this rowntry and ?related at this moment ?—t cannot say that
there it.
Are yon aware of soy alteration having taken place lately
in the regulations respecting the interronrate between this
country and Ireland in the article of malt ?—I acs OWL
If there was a free export of wool from Velem!, would
it not contribute very winch to assist the Irish farmer?—
Certainly.
1s nut a great deal of the laud in Ireland pcenliarly well
calculated Ilar sheep 7—Yes, and fur the growth of tong wool,
which cannot be procured on the Cosiinent ; and theatfure
would be purchased with west avidity.
Ts it not generally arnderstood, that thirty or forty years
ago, very large quantities of wool were pent frawilnleutly
front Ireland to France?—Longer ago; I sin inclined I.
think abort sixty or ehrlitty years ago.
la it understood to have 'Wen a traffic attended with very
grant profits?-11 was so conceived, I believe.

Vuu Iseatieued that a protecting duty seemed to be the
only mode to your opiniou of redress?-1 couceive it would
be tie most effectual one.

Are there protecting duties on the m•naf:oeturea or Ireland
against foreign mannfaetorers,—Tbere are, uor e►ery one
that I know of.

Do you ate ■ny reason why the manufacture of eorn
should not be protected in like matinee f—Nune whateier
f conceive that manufacture the must important of nny.
Taking into conaideretion the price, as far as your informa-
tion extends, of foreign corn, are you entitled to slate
rate of ditty would be ■ sentient protection ?—1 am not
prepared In answer that question, but from my knowledge of
the natural firlflty of Ireland, and of the improvement of
which her tillage is susceptible. I do conceive, that Ireland
is capable of producing as murk corn its England (mold lane
occasion for; mud Ord in return, Ireland would take the
manufacture.. of England, fur is proportion as the farmer
and landlord of Ireland primpered, would they be sand cm-
turners In skis country for its manufarmreti.

Is it the point price of malt, that to a (rest extent pre.
yenta an active intercourse in that article brewer', this Irussa.
try and Ireland t—That particular breech is one that I feet
myself least prepared to speak to; these are particular COIN.
lies which export malt, that I am am mach acegualated

LOWER CANADA.

EXTRACT PROW A LETTER FROM ARGENTFEVI.,
LOWER CANAD•, APRIL 13. 18$1.

MY or** Pomo D-1 ought to apologise for not baring
written you a few lines before this, but, in fact, my time has
been so completely occupied, as sun may readily *impose,
in settling my family in a country where 1 knew not an in-
dividual on my fistit arrival, that 1 am sure your liberality
of mind will acquit me of any imputation of neglect. I
am now, thank God, eoinfortably Axed on my own fret bold
estate, consisting of 100 acres, with house, learn, sac. :cc. and
my sloth inereasiag fast.
The new Governor, lord Dalhousie, appears to advance
popularity;in he made the tour of the Grand River, and
parts adjacent, last aommer, and listened wish, the must con-
descending affability to the ninny petitions and represents-
times made to him. The Csuadiaus appear to me to be a
people jealous in the extreme of their independerice, rights.
and privileges; yet 1 do not believe his Majesty hart a more
brave or loyal people in ilny part of the world fur his sub-
jects-1 will except nom.. The new G aaaaa or, from an
nrhanity of manners, easiness of emu, and unremitting
endeavours to advance the comfort and prosperity of the
Colony, has gained very greatly on the gouil.will and esteem
of the people at large. Many salutary measures have been
adopted this Session, mush as renrodellitig the Courts of Jus.
Site, on a scale approximating to those of Westmiuster—
facilitating the recovery of small debts in the provinces—
quarterly returns of all monies in the hands of the Receiver-
Geocal—and, I understand, nine* is in contemplation midi
respect to roads through t he country. and erecting of douches.
The population of the Canada. is advancing very rapidly.
Nearly 14,000 settlers came over last year. Notoithrtand-
ing, trade is in a very stagnant slate butt, at Quebec sod
Montreal. The Wien of the latter plate have very meek-
toriously sesotiated to afford asaismote to those emigrants
arriving here in poverty mid distress. This chanty has
saved hundreds from starving last season. They want no
panegyric; the approbation of their oast beads is
sofficient. Good workmen in this country in say of the
useful trade. are sure of getting a good lisirg ; such as
carpenter., builders, smiths, w lit elwrights, millwrights, shoe-
makers, &c. Any good band can earn no equivaleut per
diem to the following iirovisious:—A bushel of wheat ;
or 30 lbs. of meat ; 4 bushels of potatoes; • pound of good
tea ; a gallon arum ; or eight or ten lbs. of cheese or butter.
Husbandmengeoerally iu Unwept' harvest receive payment is
tenths of every crop. What • great thing fur a man with a fa-
mily !—lt may be asked,why so malty return home disgusted
sad pranyless? I answer, that very many come over destitute
of all resources. 'They cannot And employment in the cities
immediately on landing ; they have no means of support
anvil employment perorate itself. Thus hope is superseded
by despair, and misery succeeds. However, lum morally
certain that no man who comes over here astimated with the
'pith of industry, and Is in possession of resources to main-
tain his family a few weeks, heed despair of feeding them ire
ahundance. Ewt She idk man hail better steer bus course to
any other point of the compass than this.
The following singular advantage to the indigent settler
is practised where I am :—A man may have from au opals:at
landowner one, two, or three cons, as WWI as he has grass
and hay enough to support them. He pass nothing. They
to main with biro three years, during which time he reaps all
the advantage &resitting Crum milk, butter, and cheese fur his
family. The sole condition of the proprietor is, that the
cows are to be restored at the expiration of site given time,
together wish the first calf. Other calve., of course, belong
Se the borrower.
Every emigrant coo °biol. a portion of 100 acrea of load
upon proper application to his Excellency the Governor. A
lochouse may be erected for lOL, and six acres of land can
be cleared fur about 16/. or 401. more. The settler then has
gut over the grand difficulty, having a solllcivney of food fur
his family, and , look - hint •