The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1821-02-22 00:00:00

gallons—increase, 1,528,000. Foreign spirits.
rum and brandy—rum, first average, 2,791,000
gallons ; last year, 2,757.000 gallons—deereme,
34,000 gallons. On brandy there ass an increase
—previous average, 866,000 gallons ; last year,
L 061,000 gallons—increase, 195,000 gallon.. Tea,
tt commodity which yielded a stmng proof of the
rate•of consumption in the necessary articles of life
—average consumption of tea for former period,
'22,156,0001bn. ; last year. 22.514,u001be.—in-
Mime. 356,0001b5. Tobacco and snuff, former
'average 11,847,000Ibs; last year 11,680,00011a5.
Wine exhibited a dimirentien; French wines
average consumption 975 tufts ; last year,
• /6 tous--e-decrease 59 tuns. NVines, not
French, average 1111,446 tuns; last year, 16,300
-decrease 2,146 tuns. Cape wine, average 2,103
tune; last year 1,000 tuna—decrease 1,105 tuna.
Sure censitmed in England on average before taken
3,117,000 cwt.; last year 3,133,000 cwt.—increase
310,000 cwt.—Upon artmost all the important articles
of life there was a manifest increase of consump-
tion in the last year's ; with one or two excep-
tions, such as coffee and wine, they exhibited uni-
form increase. If on beer, spirits, tobacco, coulee
candle., soap, and salt, it would be rattan that
ibere was a tendency to increased rather -than to
ilimiisisheri consumption, and in defect of lamina-
tarn upon the consumption of agricultural produce,
liat !Possible ground could he have for believing that
there was a decrease in the general cotaiumption of
bread, especially wile', it eas shewn, that in the
eases of tea, sugar, male, beer, and other articles,
upon which the greater part of the population
were fed and subsisted, there was so Merlons an
increase? If no fair inference would be drawn
of the decrease of consumption, the only design-
able cause lefewas tnet of over production. He did
not undertake then to ray this of the productions
of tire soil, because that would involve a con-
sideration of the laws as they affected the expor-
tation and importation of corn, into which he was not
disposed to enter. The laws which bad been passed
to relation to that subject might be questioned as
to the excellence of their principle ; but return-
tug back to the system from which the enact-
ment
of those laws had diverted them was
another question. He was very far from underva-
luing that distress which vexed and depressed agri-
culture in many parts of the country ; but to bring
it forward would be of no use in establishing or
overturning this important fact, namely, that it
was impossible for any one to ray, as it repealed
the whole mass of the population, that they could
be suffering any diminution of comfort, while it
was made menitest that there had been a consider-
able increase in all the great branches of commerce
which contributed the essential articles of exist-
etice. If any fact could be reasonably establivhed,
relating to such numerous and extensive details,
and bring inferred from undeniable premise.. was
Calculated to justify the firmest reliance upon it,
the House must agree with the inference which be
bad drawn from the accounts which he had detail-
ed. • The Noble Marquis bail called for that atten-
tian to the distresses of !agriculture ; and he agreed
with the Noble Marquis, that it was a care of very
great importance, and deserved the gravest coesi-
iteration, though he ass not likely to be convinced
of the propriety of making any alteration in the
laws which existed on that subject. Whether the
inatein adopted was right or wrong in its principle,
might he a fair subject for doubt; but they were
bound, before any alteration should he attempted,
to consider seriously if the evil complained of was
traceable to the enactment of those laws, what de-
gree of immediate relief was to be hoped from their
sodden repeal, and if the cell might nut be more easily
overcome by a steady adherence to whatever prin-
ciple might be adopted after the most serious and
earnest coneidelation had on all the relations of
the case. %Ville respect to the system of rettric-
now, fur example, the object of every statesman
ought without doubt to be the aveulsurr, as far
as poristee. of laying restrictions on the work-
leg of any of the great interests of the country.—
Ile was afraid, and lie had expressed that fear on a
torture occasion, just like the present, that this
enuutrV, from time very live of its coinnierae and
manufactures. heel too much addicted itself to re-
steictioes for its true interests, and that the wealth
a.fd commercial greatness of the kingdom had
iisen rather in spite than through the assistance of
restrictions. Yet it would be admitted ley all who
heard him that it would be difficult iii the extreme
to stake off those restrictions, which obviously im-
peded the suer:ems of many branches of inattufac-
tures snd trade. ‘Vliaterer evils could be traced
to restrictions, and he was by no means disposed
to undervalue the clasaaiss which depressed maim.
factives and commerce 'to particular iiistancese
there was one tvll much more to be dreaded
thee; the effect of the severest testrictione.-
Tired evil was fluctuation. Restriction* were
•
Peibmpsimpolitic, and to some cases utiviumlyi
sinschievoas; but when imposed after fell
tarration, it wall inure, better to perreveie with them
thee to risk the rife et of rashly throwing them
off. Hold on in the course first adopted, and ihr•
restriction; might become tolerable—the evil would
in time right itself, or circumstances would be
found out to obviate it altogether. But to be al-
ways aiming, rendered every thing insecure; no
Man would know what to trust in ; speculation
would be battled, and trade would be injured in
altits•brauclies, from the hesitation which wirer.
taint, threw import all transactions of trade. Let
their Lordships observe how arbitrarily trade am&
commerce had been confined to free countrimee
and how speedy had heeu their flight on the oe-"i
currency of interruption to any of their regulations.
'there were many monarchies which had softer law.
teen those which regulated the affairs of these
kingdom.; but the people were not flee on that
account, because there was no certainty in theme-
tete of their circumstances to wavraie confidence in
the continuance of those laws. Let their condition
be compared with that of the people of Giestit Brie
taio, and it would be found that the suiseribe Prot-
pertly of this country was attributably ,Miele to the
fixed sad •unvarying nature of the list and nista..
lunette, rather than to the superior mations of theme
• the •laws ware in porticulin instances
geod, the subject was sure to enjoy the beneit •of
1100 without any fear of' interruption ; if Axed.
at the catgut of the rya was fixed wad lemited.
violatime the* :evident, reel/7 the
'• Isealidiag their

enter into any of the various topics to the discus-
sion of which the speech of the Noble Marquis
invited. Especially would he avoid the considera-
tion of the cruse, of the distresses which affected
agriculture. He would only observe that eiremar-
stances had contributed towards, the end of the war
to force great tracts of lain-f int° cultivation which
were never fitted fur it, and could not be made to
produce but at an expense far greater than the
value they were copable of reitoring to those who
had expected considerable profit from the under- .
taking. This of itself must have wrought in
aid of that increase in the productions of the
country, which he had before attempted to establish.
He had not adopted his opinion on the subject of
cultivating waste lands without deep consider-
ation, nor without its application, from having wit-
riessed the proofs of it in several parts of the coun-
try. Yet to far from regretting the increase of
cultivation as an event, he thought that there was
the greatest reason to look for consolation in it.
His remarks were peculiarly applicable to the agri-
culture of Ireland, Awn which country, during
the war, the importation of wheat into this country
was 'text to nothing. In the last year of the war
the whole of the exports of grain from Ireland were
38,000 quarters. In the course of the last year
there were 351,579 quarters exported from Ireland.
Ile was 'tot aware that any of the topic-sin the speech
of the Noble hiarquis to which it was necessary for him
tospeak, had been left unconsidered. 111 moving for
the papers which it was his intention to call for, he
would take the opportunity of replying to the ob.
set vationsof the Noble Marquis opposite, whom-clued
to think that considerable relief might be afforded
to the public by changing the mode of taxation.
Ile was very far from saying that no method more
advisable than the present could be adopted for
collecting the revenue, but lie could not entirely
concur in the observations of the Noble Marquis.
lie was not going into the consideration of which
was the most preferable mode; he might even
admit that a system of taxes, which comprised
more direct and fewer indirect taxes, would have
proved in the end less oppressive. lie believed
that if at the end of the war a certain pro-
portion of the Property 'Eat had been retained,
and other taxes remitted, that would have been it
mode preferable to the present; but it was an en-
tirely different question to attempt any alteration.
Even in a case where eventual benefit was likely to
secure from airy alteration, it must never be for-
gotten that a considerable derangement of interests
must take place. Suppose a Mall of 1,000/. or
1,200/. per annum, It t a property tax of any con-
siderable amount be imposed, and the other tuxes
remitted—the tax, perhaps, would require an im-
post of '25 per cent. to compensate for the loss to the
revenue of the other taxes—what a difference would
be mode in the income of this person, and all of his
class. It might be urged that lie wculd find a recons-
pease for his loss in the cheapness of provisions and
all other articles consequent on the reunionist) of the
other taxes. So he would ultimately ; but what
would he suffer in the mean time ? Any attempt
ut alteration on a large scale would ouly derange
the general interests, and produce greater incon-
venience, greater pressure and distress in the
operation than was likely to arise from going
through with any measures once deliberately udopt.
ed. At all events, he thought that the good likely
to accrue from •idopting the proposal of the Nobie
Marquis was very problematical. His Lordship then
moved for the production of the accounts described
in the beginning of his speech.
The Marquis of LANIDOWN wished to offer a few
observations on what bad fallen from the Noble
Earl. In the first place he would express his gra-
titude to the Noble East for his willingness to fur-
nil!' explanation; but he feared that the papers
moved for would by no means elucidate the object
of must moment fur the House to consider, namely,
what were the causes of the distress allowed to be
so prevalent throughout the country ? He thought,
moreover, that the papers, however useful in other
respects, would slot be enough to prove that the
increase of capital could lead to, or be connected
with in any way, as cause and effect, • diminu-
tion of demand. In particular cases, the increase
of produce might not lead to enlarged consumptions
as in the case of cotton, supposing the manufac-
turer to be co:nprlled to keep his capital working
after a considerable dnuisiutioss had taken place its
the demand, which he had been in the habit of sup-
plying. He would in that case increase the pro-
duceof manufactured cotton, and render it cheaper ;
but if by so doing he created any enlargement
of consumption, to he must, under the cir-
cumstances, be working at a Inn, the advantage
derived would lie only to the customer—th? mann.
facturerand the country at large must suffer from
the sacrifice of capital. lie thanked the Noble
Liirl for the paper', but they would scarcely be
found applicable to the question which it must be
the desire of the House clearly to complehrtirl.
Perhaps some useful information could be derived
from the Cliainbers- of Commerce, established in
various places in the country. lie did not kilo*
ill what way the accounts of those assemblies were
prepared, or if they were sufficiently eatenoise in
their bearings, or correct in their calculations, to
throw soy very useful light nil the subject be-
fore the House. These erre Chamber-a of the
kind established at Birmitsgham, 111 incliebter,
Glasgow, and oilier places. tie knew himself
that considerable attention bud been paid to
the question of consumption in the main articles
of life. corn, meet, 'manses, and beer ; and. in
more than one instance the conviction of those
bodies was, !lint a considerable diminution had
taken place in those articles.
The Earl of LIVERPOOL promised to make in-
quiries respecting the constitution of those CIIIIIII..
ben, and how far their se-counts were to be relied..
on, and if those accounts were likely to prove
available for any usefnl pirposev, to use the influ-
ence of Goverismesit to obtain that information for
the Committee. As to the observation of the Noble
Marquis Upolll the subject of cotton. it ./40 happen-
ed that he had purianiely omitted to mention the
article of cotton air his details, because he was aware
of its Lei% open to the objeetion advanced upon it
by the Noble Marquis; had he taken it its, how-
ever, it would not hate invalidated his issfereuce,
that es there was increase in the consomption of all
the easesitisl articles of Met she &striates of par-
Coulee parts of the rews-brianeb* siP tirade a..

• A nod
metes • r.pleasure oittsiu .tbe t sugsseultute mast be attributed oveitjeteit
esuitrol
•. 1055pi..44, _lt was not his iuteotian,tt doctiou.Y :e..1 • • •

•

Lord Eatlatlllt had come down to the House with
considerable inconvenience to himself, and he
would have to retire with very great disappoint-
ment at what he had heard from the Noble Earl.
The doctrine of passiveness tinder the pressure of
admitted evil and difficulty, reminded him of a
celebrated quack doctor, whose fame was em-
blazoned on the walls of the town. He would sup-
pose this doctor to have called on one of his ill-
treated patients, who should complain to him that
lite disease increased in proportion to the frequency
with which he applied the medicines of his physi-
cian. The doctor would answer, " Go on with
your present medicine,"—“ lees," the putitnt
might say, " but if l do, doctor, I shall never
have the happiness of seeing you again, us I am
in the last stage of a "oellopping consumption."—
The doctor replies, "That unity be, but there is
no other remedy for you; if you wish for other ad-
vice, I can only recommend you to an undertaker."
Such was the reel amount of all the statements and
argurnetits of the Noble Earl. to the papers,
" the chronicles of small beer," they 'sent hut a
very little way into the real case which it was the
duty of the House to consider. There W 34 another
cause, besides those which the Noble Earl had
stated for the distress which was ravaging the coun-
try—the destructive system of war lied expendi-
ture which had been carrying on for twenty-live
years past. A debt had beets contracted of seven
or eight hundred millions. The owners of that
property had lent the money to carry on that
wee and the country bad become utmost too
poor to pay for it. Excessive burdens tell in cosi-
trequence on the land. lie was wry far front urging
a breach of faith with the public creditor but if
lie were to be told that there was no remedy fur
the increasing distress of the country, lie would
say in reply, that if so, the 'nitrite creditor could
nut very long be paid. The table was perpetu illy
loaded with representations of the distresses of
agriculture, and yet the House had done no-
thing. lie admitted that as to the Corn Laws,
if all the countries in Europe would do the same as
ourselves, there laws would be not only useless, but
mischievous. He complained of the neglect of the
Noble Earl to say any thing on that vital question
of the poor rates, and that lie should content
himself amidst so much crying calamity with de.
daring that nothing could be dime. Something ought
surely to he done to prevent the effects of those Acts
of Parliament which gave the pot rates an oppressive
operation which they were never intended to have.
lie deprecated the declaration which had gone
forth, that the Legist dure never intended to depart
from the Statute of Elizabeth, with respect to the
poor rates, which would ie tract of time, have the
effect of giving over the whole landed property of
the country in poor rates. A stoutliealtliv ls-
bourer, on bargaining fur his hire, veil s oppressed
by the lowness of wages, might undertake to pro-
vide for himself and his wife, and some part of his
little family, but if the wages were nut sufficient,
his employer would frequently undertake to aug.
merit them by procuring an allowance from
the parish. This system would its the end swill.
low up the whole of the landed interest. It would
not do to tell the country that great as was the
distress they must be eatisfied with things as
they were, because aerie was no remedy. His
Lordship argued on the eteceseity of the poor
having cheap bread, to enable trade and in inufac-
tures to compete with those of the other states of
Europe, as things were at present, whereas if labour
were to be paid with gaud wages, it would not
'natter whether breed were cheap or dear up to
certain point. lie looked for no great benefit from
the labours of the Committee while the Noble
Earl opposite persisted in It that there was no
remedy for the distresses of the country. The
same Committee had sat before; but what, be.
aides ;saying for the pointing of the Report, had
the public derived from their labours? Upon the
subject of the poor rates, he remembered tiering
put a question in the Committee to a gentleman of
Berkshire. in the commission of the peace, whe-
ther he considered the case of the paupers or that
of those who paid the rates the more lamentable?—
The answer was that the paupers had the leest
cause far regret of the two parties.
Lord Ktensaiale that formerly Ministers were
content to come down to the House with an annul
budget. The modern prettier was to accompany
it with an annual paradox. The distresses of the
country had been referred to all tOfilliict of causes.
—Firet they were owing to peace ; then there
was distress io America, and so this country was
in distress ; then the cause was foreign loans ; at
last it was discovered in the excessive production.
Hai there been ally deficiency iii the supplies of
the country, the Noble Earl might have stated with
safety, that as there was a scarcity, so there must be
a suffering of distress. But to say that the dis-
tresses of it country were owing to the abundance of
its produce, was something which the mind ofStritt
himself, purposely engaged in seeking for illustra.
thins of absurdity, could never have conreived.
There was nothing like it to be found in Gallie er's
Travels. Ile would ask if produce must not always
agree with the uruount of capital employed in crest.
ing it ? Hud there not beet, a great duniitution of the
capital ofthecountry ? If proofs were asked, were they
not to be found in the immoderate increase of poor
rates alone ? %Vitt; respect to the Noble Earl's
statenrent, it might be perfectly true that in parti-
cular articles there had been an increase or an ap-
parent increase in the ronaumption. But there
were other considerations belonging to the subject.
Was there any waste of capital iii bringing about
the consumption ? War the difference of quality
in some of the articles compensated to the merchant
by the price? Hatt the abundance of quantity
wooed in each care for the decrease in the pt ice ?
House would perceive to how very different an
inference it might lead from that entertained
by time Noble Earl, were the explanations upon all
those points full with respect to each article.—
As to the causes of the distress, thee had not far to
go fur them : they bad been at war for 25 peer,
and nue they had to pay fur it. At the time of
the war they did ant feel the expense, because the
money was spent all e paper currency, %Inch it was
now found very difficult to pay in metal. lie
should like to know if the Noble Earl, when ha
prepoard that expedient of paper currency, had in-
formed the Holier of the result. to which it had
since ltd.—hod the Noble Earl et that time stated
dtit the measure was necessary, but though the
cosiitty would not feel Ouse irsults then, 'et the

time would come when they would be Mt most
pressingly--..was it to be conceived that the mea-
sure would hove been suffered to go into effect ?
Why lisd not the Noble Earl said this at the time ?
Did lie understand the subject? Was lie aware
that such would be the results? If so, had lie not
practised wand chlosion nn the country by neglect-
ing to say %oat the time? Ilia Lfirabhip in•nc,edrfl
to argue, that the prosperity or ilistre..rs of any
country mug be regulated by the proportion' which
capital bore to the population. If the waste of
capital duriog the war was the ttne cause of
the aiNtremo. the national cure was economy, which
would enable the country to replace its vivito!.
Let the House look at the want of rout rut in the
Treasury—the 'obtuseness of pay to the chief of-
ficers—the excess of the whole of the civil est:l-
- to see how far they were from any thin::
like economy in the expenditure. Retrenchment
alone would give considerable

Earl DARNLEY' recommended retrenchment in I
the expenses, and more economy in the collection
of the reveirue, especially in Ireland.
Earl Gael( urged the siecesaity of introducing
retrenchment mid economy, in holies that the
adop,iou of those measures 'night brad to greater
relief than ‘<eiS at present thought possible, which
measures he was certain might be carried into
effect without diminishing from the usefulness of
any one department to a very conaiderable amount.
He %imbed to say a few words on what had passed.
He had come down to the House tiustitig that
the Noble Earl would be prepared to give some
light and throw Out sonic hope of relief upon
the distressed state of the country, and lie would
depart without much satisfaction. lie had seen the
Noble Eirl do theta what hail been very frequent with
Irina sod many other Minister., come down with offi-
cial statements, with documeoto, and taldes of
figures, from which some general inference was to be
drawn, upon which the House and the public were
required to place their reliance in preference to the
result of their own observations. It was said that
figures could not err, and he had very little doubt
that those accounts appealed to by the Noble Earl
were accurately summed up. But what purpose
could they serve when the inference to he drawn
from diem was completely falsified by facts which
were in the observation of every man in the country ?
The existewteof distress to a very great amount could
not be questioned.. One pregnant cause was to be
traced to an alteration in the currency. lie remem-
bered the period when the Noble Earl assured Vie
House that there was no difference or deprreiati.an in
the currency, and in consequence of the N utile Earl's
declaration, the other House actually came to ale-
solution, that a pound iir paper was of the same
iutriusic value as the pound lir gold. At that tune
they were furoished with office statements respect-
ing the articles. from which it war inferred, that the
alteration of prices was by no means caused by the
depreciation of piper money, but was solely owing to
the war. That opinion was es confidently maintain-
ed then, as the opposite was entertained now. The
Noble Lord opposite, in an argumentative and very
eloquent speech on the commerce of the coutitry, had
counted the depreciation of the paper currency
among the cause* of the distress. Hr doubted the
returns of the Noble Earl as it regarded the infer-
ence to be drawn. lido the examination of 'the
accuracy of the separate statements he was cot pre-
pared to enter, he would only make one of two
general observations. What were the objects to
which they were to be applied ? To prove that
the • comforts of life were rather increased than
diminished, with regard to the generality of the
population ; secoudly, that as an increase of
conatunption was proved, the distress must be
caused by ove:-production, and especially through
the cultivation of waste lands or others not quali-
fied to produce, so as to recompense the ex-
pense laid out on them. This was a consola-
tory doctrine, which would, tin don!rt, much
gratify the Noble Earl's Friend, the Member for
fiuspex, and others whose lands were of that character. But
as to au in in the comforts of life to the people at
large, was not every one who heard such an assertion, pre.
pared, from remold observation, to say that It was not true ?
Was there any our who would get up anal state distinctly that
distress did nut prevail, or that he did nut believe it to pre-
vail in all the great interests of the country ? The agricul.
tine, manufactnres, and commerce, were earls enthralled in
thatress which threatened them with destruction. Ask aoy
ref the farmers, or any of the chief trade-stereo of this great
town, as to the stale of the affairs of their branch, and they
Would reply that the diminution of demand in every article
was frightful. An increase indeed in the consumption of
the •rticlens of life so be proved by the increase of Excise
choirs! And then they were to he told of increased pro.
eliortion as the cause of distress. U',, it so with agriculture
Why the reverie was the fart. The env of last year (one
of the best ever knower) was rather under than over the
artrage. The crop before that was so had that *tumults
wcre unable to pay their rent; there was me truth in
the fact of over-production. This was must extraor-
dinary. Hint there were Iwo things to be considered:
increase of consumption must lead to increased sic.
swami; increase of demand hd to • fluarisbiug condi-
tion with those who had to provide it. Who had de-
rived she hem fit ? Not the agriculturists; •gricolture was
laugnishing. Then it wee said, o Oh'. agriculture aloes not
flourish on account of over production from the cultivation
of bail laud." Then it most be manufactures that were he-
nefiline trust the surplus of agriculture. Not ma—the
manufacturers were in she deepest &stress. At Flirming.
ham their cosolition had been (bond, MI
nation, to be that of appalling misery. Even in arose
instances where there was ati increase or sale, it must
have been caused by the hope rather than the actual increase
of demand. The diorite's wits caused by, and proportioned
to, the diminution of manufacturiug capital. He then
came to the first unerring cause of all this calamity. The
war, profusely carried on, bad lift its brinks on she count/ y.
This was coupled with another cause, the alteration of the
currency. They Might torn and twist the subject as they
would, the plaits fact was, that they had contracted • debt
in • paper currency, which Couhl trot he paid in a metallic
cement), His Noble Fiteltel had &percales! the breaking
of faith with the national creditor. Ile was as far as any
one from urging it. Ile was filled a ith coustertia-
lion arid terror sit the prospect of the country's
affairs ; but his Noble Friend would recollect there
was • maxim of law, Amu fenetur ad inspossl-
' Having contracted a debt beyond all power of
payment, through the delusion procured tin tire coon.
sty, how were they to proeeed ? Thitistate admits could not
eurtinue, and be was snuck with dismay and tee rue rill it
he considered bow • change would be bionght about.
Every boor of eery runnel day added to painful con-
victions of bus mind, that the country hail really at last
arrived at what had been eloquently termed in she begin.
Mugu( she war the verge of haute n pity. There was no other
way to save it than that of replacing the Governineut ou
its proper mid nstsual basis—by run tallnient in the pro-
digal expenditure, and both House* of parliament ought to
apply themselves ddigeutty to the work of economy end
retretiel

The motiun of the Fail of Liverpout was agi red
Adjourned.