The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1826-10-02 00:00:00

THE BRITISH PRESS.

this very monopoly, which they now regret, had proved
our ruin, by inducing foreigners to manufacture for them-
selves, in consequence of the difficulty of receiving foreign
supplies. Notwithstanding these gloomy forebodings they
now admit that our .manufacturing industry bore up
against foreign competition for ten years ; and assert that
we have lost our advantages now in consequence of taxes
and expenses, which are much less at present, in propar-
lion to foreign countries, than they were ten years ago.
Unfortunately for the argument of a Olasgow Paper, con-
cerning the extension of manufactures in the United States
and France, these two countries were precisely those in
which we could never have been said to have possessed
any monopoly. France opposed the introduction of our
manufactures not only at home, but in foreign coun-
tries ; and the United States were, during the whole
war, almost at full liberty to supply foreign countries,
and to he themselves supplied with foreign manufactures.
Admitting that France and America send to other countries
part of the manufactures which we formerly supplied, it
remains to be shown what superior advantages they possess
over us in foreign markets, when we know that their ma-
nufacturers of cottons, in particular, could not, on the basis
of free trade, compete with us for an instant in their own
markets. As to our monopoly, we have indeed lost it.
Asia, Africa, and America, are not now exclusively ours;
but we have received a part of the trade of Europe, which
balances what we have lost in the less important quarters
of the world. Our partial monopoly is not therefore to he
regretted ; and, if it were, it would scarce be worth the
price of another war to recover ; for nothing less can restore
it. If our provisions were as cheap as water or air, and
our taxes entirely removed—if our labourers could live on
nothing, and supply their goods for one hundreth part
of foreign pricer—we isouldnot prevent for,ign governments
from laying restrictions on our trade. It is impossible for
the wisdom of man to devise any method of removing such
restrictions in foreign countries but by showing the ex-
ample in this ; and it must not be supposed that treaties
end agreements are the only methods of removing foreign
restrictions. The Opposition Papers, at a time when war
rendered it impolitic to agitate such questions, laid it down
as a maxim that smuggling could only be effectually pre-
vented by the repeal of all enormous duties. IVe agree
with them in their principle, and we apply it to foreign
countries, where it:will undoubtedly be found, sooner or
later, that the enterprise of our merchants is not to be
damped by restrictive regulations. We certainly consider
the trade of smuggling enttons into France as equally
legitimate with the trade which was formerly carried on
with Spanish America. The doctrine of reciprocity has
been proclaimed by England, and on that principle her
merchants will feel themselves authorized in taking their
measures accordingly. If a French farmer has cottons
offered to him, which would t.ell in France for half-a-crown,
in exchange for a bottle of wine, which he can hardly
dispose of fur three-pence, it will not be found difficult to
meet with purchasers for our cotton goods in France ; and
both pirties will have profit enough to cover the premium
of insurance on their.risk, even if it sheuld a nount to cent.
per cent.

There can be no doubt that the distress of the country will
cure itself. It is a necessary ingredient in the remedy
which has been applied to the state of the nation. Our
present misfortunes will replace us in a natural state, by
turning the attention of manufacturers to the means of
preventing similar calamities, as well as by stopping short
the career of production at present. But this is by no
means an argument that means should not be employed
for alleviating that distress on the present and on ail fu-
ture occasions. Of all the methods proposed for this pur-
pose, the moat weak and inefficient is that of a Treasury
grant. So far from concurring in the opinion of those who
advocate this, we feel very much inclined to find fault with
the application of most of the subscriptions ; and we really
can see no permanent preventive to the recurrence of such
events but in a consolidation and new-modelling of our
poor-laws and charitable foundations. The revision of the
corn-laws, and the reduction of taxation, if practicable,
would not entirely prevent revolutions in the state of trade.
There must be a fluctuation in all human affairs. It is
impossible, without endowing our merchants with omni-
science, to keep the quantity of goods manufactured in ex-
act proportion to the demand. We must therefore provide for
occasional derangements in our system ; and in doing so it
might be well to pay a due attention to the landed interest
by revising the poor and corn laws at the same time. In
the management of the late subscriptions, in that of pub-
lic charities in general, and in the whole system of the poor..
laws, there is one radical defect :—the persons relieved
are either not employed in labour at all, or they are em-
ployed in such labour as does not augment the means of
subsistence either by agricultural improvements increasing
the means of subsistence, by public works calculated to
produce a revenue capable of supporting economically those
employed on them, or by the production of commodities
exchangeable for provisions with foreign countries, without
coming into competition with our own manufacturers. It
is proper and necessary that a pauper should be reduced to
live on the lowest scale consistent with his health. It was
calculated lately that a weaver in the west of Scotland had
to support his family (a wife and four children) on six
shillings a week, their subsistence being a scanty pittance of
oatmeal, potatoes, and herring. On two of these commo-
dities we must recollect that there were a variety of charges
besides those of the price of labour, all which charges enter
into the price of each. There are the landlord's rent, the
farmer's profit, the millers profit, and the retailer's profits
while the agricultural labourer is himself paid higher than
the weaver. There are also similar charges on tiro herring.
If these thirerent charges could by any means be rernovcd,
we do not calculate too high, surely, in saying that six
shillings would purehaie as much as ten at present, which
would enable the workman to live almost comfortably.
Now if, instead of workhouses, &c., a portion of land were
set apart in each pariah for the poor to cultivate, it is ob-
vious that all such charges as we have particularized would
be prevented, and the only difficulty would be to manage
matters so that the strictest economy rni:,ht be observed in
the management. This we think might be done by intro-
ducing a more public method of managing pariah business.
Let the parishes in England and the proprietors in Scotland
and Ireland furnish land, tools, and provisions, for the
first year, and I think there is little doubt of its saving them
all trouble in future. Those inferior lands, which they talk
of leaving uncultivated if the corn-laws were repealed,
might still support our poor. A Glasgow Paper affirms—
and we believe it to be true, that " at half the
expense which will attend their conveyance to Ca-
nada or Africa, this nation might plant a million of
people on the west coast and islands of Scotland, situate
between the Mull of Kintyre and Cape IVrath—plant them
in independence—and not only so, but in a situation which
will, in the moat prompt manner, enable them to add
greatly to the wealth of the State, instead of being, as they

arc at present, a drawback upon it. In the districts," con-
tinues the Journalist, " we have mentioned, there are tens of
thousands of acres of land which may be rendered produc-
tive by cultivation, and Ln imlllellSC field for employment in
fisheries, and for many nun as labourers, providing an im-
pulse was only given, and capital bestowed to begin the
work. In' these places an industrious population settled
would not only produce abundance for themselves, but
sustenance for others—increase the value of all adjacent pro-
perties—and consume more of our manufactures than
France, or Saudi America, or the United States, ever will
consume. Only open roads and communications, and give
the poor, or, as it is politely called, our • surplus popula-
tion,' the money to get cottages, land, fish-nets, boats, and
agricultural tools, and the work is done. We have adduced
only one quarter of the kingdom where such improvements
could be made. But how many more are to he found be-
tween the Land's End and the Pentland Frith, and be-
tween Cape Clcar and the Giant's Causeway? Innumer-
able ! And had that British capital which has been
swamped in South American loans, mines, and schemes,
been laid out in places at home, we would a: this day hare
had no over-production' in our manufactures—no distress
amongst our people."

In this we heartily concur, notwithstanding the non-
restrictive principles of the Paper f.om which we extract ;
and we must add that there are incontrovertible proofs that
the most barren rock or the dreariest marsh may-be rendered
capable of supporting human life by the application of in-
dustry. We need only refer to Malta and Holland.
Though neither raises food for itself, both find commodities
sufficient for procuring subsistence. We have no doubt of
the practicability of employing the poor successfully in this
way, and hope that this subject will in due time be taken
into consideration by the Legislature and his Majesty's Go-
vernment.

CITY, SATEGIDAV EVENING.

From the circumstance of yesterday having been a holy-
day, the portion of business done to-day has been upon
rather a largn scale than is usual on a Saturday. Consols,
which opened at SOl, rose during the morning to 801 for
the Account ; at the close of the Market, however, they did
not do more than realize their opening quotation of 801.
In consequence of opening the new Account for November,
there have been some increased speculations for carrying
over ; and as it does not appear that the continuation ex-
ceeds 1 per cent., it leaves the interest at about '2, while
for a shorter period it can scarcely be said to reach that
(potation. A striking contrast is thus afforded between
the value of money at this and the same period of last year.
The time is now fast approaching when the real state of
the revenue for the last quarter will no longer be matter of
speculation ; indeed it may at this moment be confidently as-
serted that the whole defalcation, as between this and the
same quarter of 1525, will not be more than 400,000/., thus
fully justifying the anticipation expressed by the CHAN-
CF:I.I.OR of the EXCIIEQUER in his financial statement,
in the last Session of Parliament, as to the probable falling
off in particular duties from the alteration in our commer-
cial policy, and other circumstances. The report of a par-
tial change in the Administration has been again band A
about to-day, but without any particular allusion as to the
individuality of persons who are about to seek the °Hum
rum Atreitate. Whatever change may be imagined by the
wise men of the east as likely to occur, it is clear that their
prognostications were wholly abortive in producing any
effect upon the Funds. Exchequer Bills are heavy at
from 13s. to lis. premium, while Indian Bonds have ad-
vanced to 325. The disparity between these Securities is
supposed to proceed from one of two causes—either the ex-
pectation of a large issue of Exchequer Bills at a very early
period, or thst his Majesty's Government will, at an early
thy, funds large amount its stock of 34 or 4 per cent. In-
dia Stock is on the advance, having been done as high as
210 for the opening.
The non-payment of the Chilian Dividend has produced
a retrograde movement in all descriptions of Transatlantic
Securities, excepting, indeed, those which ought in com-
mon justice to be met affected—viz. Chilies] Bonds them-
selves, which have brought a higher price to-day than yes-
terday, thus proving the truth of the adage, " that
when things are at the worst they must mend." Some
persons are disposed to believe that the nec, ssary remit-
tanccs.will arrive by the packet, agreeable to the expecta-
tion of M. DE I:GANA. It will be fortunate if this antici-
pation is realized. Sales were effected to-day at 364, which
is only II per cent. lower than their general quotation of 39.

Mexican Bonds, on which the Dividends are to be
paid on Monday, have receded to 611, having varied full
.2 per cent. during the day. Previous to its being known
that Messrs. BAsiNG had accepted the Agency of this
Republic, great reliance was placed on the money lying
at Vera Cruz, and upon the Hussar, about which ship so
much was said, being ordered to bring it home. But now,
when all these! mum are certain, at least as far as trans-
actions that arc not completed can be considered so, the
Bonds in question are depreciated in the Market by an
accident like that which has befallen the Chilian. The
fact is, that the moment the house of BARI t:G and Co.
became the Agents, it was quite clear the arrival of money
in this country was no longer a necessary preliminary for the
payment of the Mexican Dividend, the constant and easy se-
mis between the Americas appearing likely to supersede it.
Colombian Bonds have felt the chilling effect of the
want of punctuality in those who live " beyond the
Andes," having been sold at 341. Greek are a shade
better at 14, and t?panish stationary at 10 ; there is, how-
ever, nothing like activity as regards them, and iu Shares
there is nothing doing.

Mr. Canning will return to Lon,lon in the early part of
the next menth. On Saturday next Mr. Brown, the Mi-
'lister of the United States to France, will give a grand
' diplomatic dinner, at which Mr. Canning will be present.—
' French Puptr.
The Duke of Buccleuch was expected to arrive at Dal-
keith Palace on IVednestlay night. His Grace has re-
cently returned from the Continent, which, it is not un-
likely, he may soon again visit, for the purpose of spend-'
ing there the ensuing winter. Ills Grace, we understand,
enters on his 21st year on the 25th of November next.
Two Couriers have been despatched to St. Pctersburgli,
the one the day before yesterday, by Count Pozzo di Borgo,
and the other yesterday, by our Minister for Foreign Al-
fairs.—French Paper td* Saturday..
L,Aters arc in town from Bogota, of the 14th of July,
stating, that in consequence of the earthquake, the Priests
had persuaded the people to massacre all the heretics, as it
was owing to their presence that they were thus visited.
The English became alarmed, and, to the number of 400,
armed themselves for defence, when the Governor gave
them permission to retire into the fort. The people, per-
ceiving this resistance on the part of the English, de-
sisted. Since this event, moat of the English have left the
place.
LIVERPOOL BRANCII BANG.—From the best informa-
tion we can obtain, there is reason to believe that the
much-talked-of Branch Bank will not be established here
until the experiment of the success of the Manchester
Branch has been ascertained.—Lieerpool Mercury.
The first pile of the coffer dam, for the Junction Dock
at this place, was driven on Tuesday last, amid a great
concourse of spectator.—Hall Advertiser.,

WINDSOR. OrTonER 1.

During the put week the King has frequently taken
airings in his phaeton to Virrinia Water, &c.
fler Royal Highness the Prihersis Augusta. attended by
her lady in waiting, hearth diving service in the parish
church, which was performed by the WY. Mr. Meley, who
preached from the I;eneral Epistle frf.lani, s, eh. i. err. 26.
This merning the Royal llorse I;,aartl4 marched from
the Cavalry Barracks to the Foot Barracks, where divine
Pervicc was performed in the Barrack-square by the Chap-
lain to the Regiment.
The works at the Castle arc now proceeding with great
rapidity.