The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1826-08-08 00:00:00

THE BRITISH PRESS

events—that any attempt to tamper with the state of
things by legislative enactments might probably cause a
greater degree of evil, ultimately, than any which these
enactments could be intended to remedy. If any thing
can be done by private benevolence, by the arrangements
of the Executive, or by the suggestions of the Provincial
or Metropolitan Press, it is extremely proper that it should
be done, but in such a way as not to interfere with the
natural course of things—not to destroy the very salutary
effects which may be expected to arise from the lesson
which has recently been given to the manufacturer, to
guard against employing too much capital and in-
dustry on objects which do not themselves furnish
the means of supplying the more immediate wants
of our nature. We do not go so far in favour of
free trade as to say that it ought to be absolute and
unlimited. Things must not be allowed to take their
own course invariably, although it is certain that the result,
in all cases where things are left to themselves, must, if
there be any truth in political or in moral science, be such as
will reconcile, in the Lest possible manner, the contend-
ing interests that must always be reconciled before
the maxim/Trio( moral or political good can be produced.
The natural course of events would undoubtedly punish the
murderer by the general fear and consequent enmity which
he must inspire in all his fellow-men; but we do not on that
account assert that laws against murder are useless. Laws,
if just, so far from contradicting the course of nature,
merely fall in with it and second it. They are merely
regulations resulting from experience, by whieh we are
enabled to come to that result directly, which could
only be effected, without that experience, after a long
courss of trials and errors—of evils and remedies—
of faults and castigations. Ministers have, therefore,
done wisely in limiting the extent to which freedom
of trade is carried; and they will also do well in draw-
ing the proper lessons from our recent experience, in
order to: form future enactments, to come to the same
results in aftettimes, without the same dear-bought expe-
rience. On the present occasion, we have learnt by actual
calamity that the improvement of one branch of industry
beyond the proportion of others, particularly of those branches
which tend to increase subsistence, must invariably produce
mist- ry, and that that misery must eventually fall on theheads
of those very persons who, from ill-regulated avarice, have
contributed to the growth of the evil. The mistake has
now been committed, and its consequences must be endured
at present with patience; but we may find means of alle-
viating them if they should recur in future, by inventing
methods for discovering the first appearances of similar
in:stakes. It is not one or two measures only which may
• be found useful for this purpose. It is not legislative re-
gulations alone that are to be used to prevent such mistakes.
Political, moral, and even scientific and mechanical causes,
may all be made to concur hl accomplishing this object.
In short, we consider the press and the furnace as not less
efficient instruments in this case, than the Legislature or
the Executive. iVe would repeat, however, once more,
that all these measures will be leas effectual immediately
than prospectively. Excessive depression must soon cause
exctssive elevation, without any further interference; but
we arc extremely anxious that the lesson should not be
lost for which we have paid so dear, and that we should
not again launch out into those schemes which have re-
cently proved so detrimental.

CITY, MONDAY EVENING.
Consols to-day have not displayed any considerableac-
tivity ; they opened at 781, and advanced gradually to
79 791, and finally closed at 791, at which price there were
buyers. A considerable anxiety prevailed for a short time,
in consequence of the promulgation of a letter from India,
dated Madras, March 10, stating that the British army in
the Burmese territory had been cut to pieces, and Sir
ARCHIBALD CA MCDELL made prisoner. Upon inquiry it

appeared that this was added as a postscript to the letter in
question, and, doubtless, was a report of the moment at
Madras. The panic, however, subsided when it was found
that there were Madras Papers in town of the 11th March,
and letters of the 15th, which were wholly silent on the
subject of any action having taken place, their only state-
ment being, that the British army were advancing. The
apprehensions on the score of this news did not last long
enough to have any effect on the Funds, or upon India'
Bonds, which closed at 2.5 to 27 premium.
In the Foreign Market there were heavy sales of Mexi-
can, which reduced them to .S 2; towards the close of the
day, however, they rallied to 534 1, at which price they
closed. Colombian are a shade better, being 35i. In
other Foreign Funds there is little or no variation.
In the Share Market, those only in which any thing like
business is: done are the Brazilian at 20, and the
Tlalpuxahua, which are at 30 premium.
In the Colonial Trade there were some considerable sales
of Rums and Coffee to-day, which realized prices that in-
dicate a steady though gradual improvement in this impor-
tant branch of our trade.

The Corn Exchange displayed, as usual, a large number
of visitors, but very little business was done. Wheat
showed a decline of ‘2s. per quarter, while oats advanced in
the• same ratio; other grain also showed higher quo-
tations.

LORD COCIIRANE.-11v the list of arrivals at Messina,
we observe that of the Unicorn schooner, Capt. Scott, on
the 12th July, from Bantry Bay, in thirty days, in ballast,
said to he bound to Corfu. This is the vessel on board of
which Lord Cochrane embarked for Greece.
There was some slarm in the City yesterday morning,
on the publication of a letter from Vellore, dated 10t1►
March, stating that the British army in the Burmese ter-
ritory had been rut to pieces, and Sir Archibald Campbell
made prisoner. That there is such a letter in town there
can be no doubt; it was brought by the IVellington from
Madras, but all other letters by this ship are silent on the
subject, and we have seen a variety of them, dated Madras
to the 16th March inclusive. 'f he report meets with no
credit in the City.
A Lisbon Mail has arrived, bringing despatches from his
Excellency Sir Charles Stuart to Mr. Canning, and from
Vice-Admiral Lord Aurelius Beauclerk to Mr. Croker ;
and by which opportunity we have received Lisbon Ga-
zettes to the 29th ultimo, inclusive, and private letters to
the same date ; by the latter we ate informed that the se-
vend authorities were to take the oaths prescribed by the
Constitutional Charter on the 31st of July. Every thing
had been quiet, except at Chaves, where a slight disturb-
ance had taken place, but of no eonsevence, and which
was soon quelled. Our letters do not mention the change
of Ministry spoken of in the French Papers, so that we are
left in uncertainty on that point. His Majesty's ship Glas-
gow arrived in the Tagus on the 26th, but sailed again on
the 29th. The Ocean, Genoa, Albion, and Diamond re-
mained in the Tagus.
A requisition in the following terms to the Lord Mayor
is in the course of signature .