The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1824-10-13 00:00:00

POLICE.

3IANSION.HOUSE.
THE NEW CORN, FLOUR AND BREAD Cos
sname time pas, active exertions have M
ve been making to establish in the
City a 't Corn, Flour, and Bread Company," which the gentlemen
concerned in the speculation say, will be calculated to supply ex.
elusively the whole Metropolis with those indispensable articles of
life. To induce persons to become members, a pamphlet, written
by a person named ,Macon, has been industriously circulated. It
is addrsseisl to the Lord illayor, as the individual most fitted, on
account of his station, to take cognizance of the subject of bread in
the metropolis ; and from whatever source it proceeded, an im-
pression has gone abroad, that his Lordship had not patronised
the new Company, but took an active part in the formation of the
establishment. lu the course of the last fortnight, a number of
gentlemen, we understand, came to the Alansion-house to consult
his Lordship upon the subject ; and one of the members of the new
Company formally applied to his Lordship, with the request that
he would place himself at the head of the proposed Intitution.
The Loan Jlayou,we are informed by one of the party who cos-
initial his Lordship (for the application was rather private) in an-
swer to the speculators, expensed hie respect for the motives of the
gentlemen who hail been persuaded to allow their names to be put
at the head of the concern, and said he knew them to be men of
too much honour to permit the existence of • doubt ,hat they con.
sidered that such an institution was just, and would be beneticia L
But he entertained far different views of the subject, and could not
consent to have his name made use of in the manner proposed, as
he felt that such an Institution would be nothing less than a combi-
nation destructive of the freetiom,and opposed tote first principles of
trade. In addition to his objections to the general system,there wasone
ground on which he could never consent to sanction the Institution.
It appeared to be proposed upon • sweeping imputation of disho.
peaty and malpractice, boldly thrown upon an extensive and entire
body of traders. To effect die object of condemnation, a letter had,
be perceived, been published by. one James :Baton, addressed to
hint as Chief Magistrate, and emulated in all quarters. This
work represented the whole trade, masters, journeymen, and appren-
tices, with hardly an exception, as the mo.,t infamous cheats in ex.
istence, as defrauding their customers in every possible manner,
and poisoning them into the bargain, by die constant use of the
must deleterious ingredients. Ile had carefully read the book,
and, he must say, that it appeared to him to be a gross calumny,
and that he believed the writer to be unworthy of credit.
The party contended warmly that the plan was foe the general
good, to which private interest must ever give way, and that the
institution, when actively operating, must produce incalculable
benefits.
The Loan MAYOI, we arc informed, inquired, what, stipposing
the plan should he as extensively countenanced as the sanguine
projecten seemed to expect, must become of all the bakers, their
and the thousands who Wefe depcadent upon that business
fo- bread? Ile declared that he felt himself called upon to ex-
press himself, thus decidedly, and lie hoped that the respectable
men who had given their names to the Institution, would adopt a
similar opinion. These were the days of delusion; new projects
were daily blazoned forth to attract the credulity of the public, and
whatever they might be when the names of bankers, philanthropists,
and members of Parliament, were procured, they were sure of
temporary success, though du ruin of the shareholders was sure to
.be the consequence. He could not consent to throw imputations
upon an entire body, or join in a ruinous project against as great a
proportion of honest and deserving men, as any other body in
the community.
We understand that a long discussion twit plate, but as far
as we could collect, tide account is the substance of the application
and the reply.