The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1822-02-07 00:00:00

THE BRITISH PRES S.

LON DON.
THURSDAY. FEBRUARY 7. 1822.

The speeches delivered by the Ministers of the
Crown in either House of Parliament, on Tuesday
evening, during the discussions upon the respective
Addressee, contained many points which are well
deserving of particular attention. From these it
may be collected, that in the promised relief which
the Cabinet affects to hold out to the agricultural
interests, the repeal of any of the existing nixes
is to constitute no part whatever. Time Minicers
avow themselves hostile to every measure which
contemplates the removal of any part of the heavy
burden that now with its disproportionate weight so
cruelly dep the industry of the country ;
but Lord Livgaroot intimated that the ides
of extendieg a temporary relief to the suf-
fering former-, by an issue of Exchequer
hills, has nor been renounced by himself and
his colleagues. Our readers will probably recol-
lect, that sonic time since the hot Session of Par-
liament we noticed a statement w!:;ch had reached
our ears, that the Ministers entertained an intention
of accomplishing the redretion of the fee per cents.
This statement we now God was substantially con.
tact, for the CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER in-
formed the House of Cu 1111 l ions ou Tuesday evening,
that lie had been hitherto deterred from embracing
this measure solely from an apprehension of ap-
pearing to countenance in any manner, however re-
mote, certain rumours which have been afloat, that
went materially to affect the public credit of the
Government ; but lie now avowed, that, should Par-
liament refuse to hiterfere with the effective opera-
tion of the sinking fund, he proposed to submit a
measure to its consideration in the present Session for
the accomplishment of this object. Upon this matter
we shall not now express any decided opinion ; none,
indeed, can be satisfactorily formed until the whole
details of the contemplated arraogement be laid be-
fore the public; but we must confess that in the pre-
sent circumstances of the country, and while ou►
Ministers profess to have an operative sinking fund,
we cannot discern any national advantage that is
likely to be derived from a transfe► of one species
of stock into another. The operation must be at,
tended by a nominal increase of the capital form-
ing the national debt, and it is obvious that the in-
terest to be paid will bear a direct proportion to the
quantity of the capital invested, no matter what
may be the denomination of stock in which it is
placed. No saving therefore can be effected in the
amount of interest to be paid by transferring the
five per cents. into the four per cents, or three per
cents., because the nominal increase of the capital
will bring with it a proportional increase of interest.
But should the capital ever come to be paid off, the
country will lose by the transaction to the amount
of so much es the four per cents. shall be higher
than 80, or the three per cents, higher than GO.
It may, indeed, be presumed, that in effecting the
transfer the CHANCELLOR of the ExcnittuElt will
have direct reference to the prices at which the
particular stock may happen to be at the time of
the transaction. In such case the low to the coun-
try, in the event of payment, will be the amount
of the difference between the price at the time of
the transfer, and the price at the time of the lay-
men% There ■re various other points of view in
which we have accustomed ourselves to consider this
subject, but which it would be unavailing to notice
more particularly until the topic shall be submitted
more directly for the consideration of Parliament
and the country.

The Miuisters seem to spevk highly of their nes-

•-• •

tions in the wide field of retrenchment, and in par.
ticular they alluded to one point which must be
highly gratifying to the public--nsiriely, the
diminutiox of the salaries throughout the extended
scale of official ranks, reaching even to the heads
of the several depaitments. This is precisely as the
matteeought to be, and thong!' this reform has been
but tardily yielded to the reiterated demands of the
public, it will be received with the sincerest silk.
faction. It was a measure suggested by the plain.
est and most obvious principles of common jus-
tice, that the men who regulated the reduction of
salaries among the persons of the lowest ranks,
should extend the principle to themselves, allit
to all others within their departments. IVe trust
that the amount of the Civil List will not, in
the general distress of the country, be considered
too sacred to be touched with the pruning-
knife. There is a rank luxuriance in its opteinling
branches: which cannot be pleasing to the public
eye, and it would be no less a measure of wisdom
and prudence, than of expediency and justice, to
render it more comistent than it is at present with
the general state of the country.

Dutch Papers to the 4d init. have arrived. It
was proposed by the Minister of Finance in the sit-
ting of the Second Chamber of the States-Cenent
on the 30th last, to raise a loran of twenty millions,
secured upon the national domains, for the public
service. The plan was ordered to be printed, and
submitted to the consideration of the Sections.

We have received Lisbon Papers to the 191 i
January. The Curtea have been occupied with
plan for the government Hr the Azores. On thc•
17th the order of the day was the prnject of a dr.
eree for the reformation or abolition of the Wthe
Company of the Alto Douro. A very long awi
animated debate arose on this subject, which sus
further adjourned to a future sitting.

Yesterday the Duke of Yosik held a levee at
his Office in the Horse-guards.
Mr. THORNTON was not sworn in a Privy Coun-
sellor on Monday, but took the nobs in Council to
his present MAJESTY. Mr. THORNTON haring
been a Privy Counsellor fur some yearn past.
As a proof of the confidence reposed in the new
Government of Colunthia, it is stated in a letter
dated Santa Fe de 13ogota, that Dr. BOLLSISK,
.agent for Messrs. B•RINOS, of Landon, has reeled
from iheGovernnsent of Columbia the salt works at
Siguipsquira fur twenty }els-5 for the sum of tiro
millions of dollars to be paid in advance, and is
now treating to take the national debt. amouotiti
to about three and a half millions of dollars, at
seven per cent. interest.—(Asso York Paper.)
Yesterday a Court of Directors was held at tie
East India House, when the de►tination of the ship
Canning, Captain W. PATTERSON, Hu altered
from China direct to Bencooleas and China.

The following requisition was yesterday numer-
ously signed, and presented In the High Buihf
We, the undersigned Electors of Westminster, remmt
yon rill call an early public meeting of the Inhaintaist Rome.
holders of the City and Liberties of Wesimiimater, for the
purpose of considering the propriety of petitionirie toe
King, and either or both Houses of Parliament, resperioe
the present alarming slate of she country, and the aecomuy of
• Reform in the Commons House of Parliament.
"To Arthur Harris, E'q High Bailiff of the
City and Liberties of Westolinotrr."

We understand that • requisition, respeetshly
signed, was a few days ago presented to the Poe
reeve of Tavietock, requesting him to call a pahhc
meeting, to take into consideration the propriety of
petitioning Parliament for Reform in the represen-
tation of the pestple, by restoring to them their
national and constitutional rights ; and also to pe-
tition for the relief cf the agricultural interest, from
the present oppressive tithe system and unremovable
taxation, thereby to afford the farmers and manu-
facturers the means of placing their labourers above
parochial relief, and to enable all the industrious
classes of the community to reap (as their fore-
fathers did) the fair harvest of their exertions. The
Portreeve having refused to convene a meeting, the
requisitionists have called one themselves, to be
held on Friday, the 15th instant.— ( /feed.)

STATUS 05' WASHINGTON.—The statue of
WASHINGTON, sculpture(' by the celebrated Ita-
lian artist, CA NOVA, of Rome, has arrived at the
capital of North Carolina—the first slate that lur
evinced patriotism enotigh to erect a durable sea
nutrient to the memory of the illuatr;ons Father of
the Republic. It was received ut Raleigh, an the
24th ult. The Legislature of the State were in Se*
soon, and the occasion was rendered more imam
ing by forming a procession to receive the 'taw
and move with it to the capitol. A salute of 24
rounds was fired, and an Address delivered by lbe'
oldest Revolutionary Officer present. who planted
the national flag in front. The Editor of the Rs-
leigh Star says the likeness is considered a good ow,
and the work surpasses the highest expectations rLt
had been entertained.

The brig Alexander, of Greenock, from Landon for tie 1
111 h, was captured by Pirates off Cape Antonin:OM
murdered the Captain and Steward, burnt the yew!. ell
put the remainder of the crew ow beard as deters
schooner which they bad plundered of :000 hoes of coat.
Extractor a letter front the Areal to Lloyd's. 111"
castle, dated the 4th instant Ow the lit mad 9d imolai
it blew a violent gale front the westward ; the Polly, lhl
kinson, in attempting to go into Shields was rep teal of 11
the Alice, Norton, and received considerahledanuage.
Anu, Winter, lost her foremast mid bowsprit by the Gan
running foul of hie.. The Misery., Cornforth, got ..r°
the rocks neer Tycemnuth Haven, bat as it is Sae tread,'
the is expected to be got off much darasgril."
Extract of • letter from the Agent to Uoysl
's t link
dated the 4th instant :—" lln Saturday the triad Mee
uaconsinan violence from the %V.S.W. towards ermine. 1.
its the eight it..reased to a hurricatte ; sod the fittliont
vessels were driven on shore :—Tine Rambler, Godfrey. 601
Cork to Hull, with provisions, parted from her sachet IP
sunk apon Trinity Sand; the cargo will he saved
vessel will be a wreck as she is on her broadside aosl toll t
water ; the crew Isere is the rigging until day.light. 111,"
they were taken off by a pilot oast. The Mao (sortie
mink al the lower end of Sunk Island, sad will be a 1,0!
Crew aimed. Another vesael (a collier), name wallonowe, to •
deep water in Trinity Sand, and it is feared that they"
have perished. A vessel, supposed to be the Proved's'',
fro. Ipewiell to H&J, is on shore neer Patringion.
will probsbly be got off without damage.