The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1826-08-19 00:00:00

THE BRITISH PRESS.

131114''''"----
PUBLIC MEETING AT MANCHESTER.

In rotenone* of a mihne notice, signed by a respectable number
ef alanufacturere aml Tredesmen of this town, calling a 31.ertiog
of the Ley Pavers, for the purpnee of consideregthe propriety of
addrroing the King., praying him to convene Parliament, no the
.
of
ising the Corn Laws, and of effecting .1 reduction in
MIT"! re" - s assemblage of person% col.
the national expenditree, a numevou
leered cat
the Maner Court Room, where the 31ceting was *fiver.
need to be held.
About twelve o'clock. Mr. Edward Baxter was called to the
chair. This gentleman, after stating hit own inability to 61
so imoortant • 'situation, repreetteil hie regret that the meetinig
bud not been called by those persons, to whom MAURO
ha I
„eel, the aoilinrity of doing an, and he afro. regarded t t,
by an hehitunl rehire!, on the part of persons in o ce, to call
_n
pone me,eings, the Important interests of the town of.
iMa .
hearer were deprived of the legitimate influence to whir i they
*hearer
ore emitted. revi hail, he said, in the first instance.
been prreented to the Churchwardens, requesting them Ito call
the prepare meeting; but those gcndemen had alleged, as
an vaunt fin their refusedl that it was not within their province to
do so; at 4as it was ainsidered uselessto apply to the Borough.
mere. a number of reeperable gentlemen thought it necessary to
all the meeting. for the purpose or laying before his Majesty the
opinion.' of the inhabitants, that Parliament should he convened
with all convenient despatch, to relieve the distreeses of the suffer-
lin*
front'eople, before des)
were driven to desperation. It was hot,
any disrespect to the people generally that the 3iceting was
wenn! to the ley payer', but for the purpose of showing that the
Resolutions did not emanate from the persons who suffered most by
the present distress. The gentleman then alluded to the refusal of
the Exchange Committee to grant their room for the use of the
Mitering, and congratulated his towneenen that the Town Hall
weula soon be in such a state as would enable them to assemble,
red exercise the public right of expressing their opinions, for
leach the friends of the hole-and-corner proceedings considered
nom unfit. He should be happy to hear any gentleman who
would coofine himself to the subjects of the Resolutions which
were to be proposed .
Mr. R. POTTER rose to propose
the Brat Reeolution, and he
Was tenon d that the number of prelims who had collected. and
the intense interest which was felt, respecting the objects of the
fleeing would, In the eyes II his townsmen, fully justify the Re-
solution of those gentlemen who had called them together. When
such a country as England, with her great capital. her skill, and
unwearied industry, was labouring under calamities, it was the
del cadre people to investignre and discover the causes of the di.-
tee.; and in doing its it was necessary that the inquiry should be
cenduned with the utmost calmness. (Cheers.) Ir. l'otter then
Wig on to prove that the operation of the Corn Laws, and the
eseesnive amount of taxation, were the principal causes of the
resent distress ; and referred. in support of his opinions, to several
'torches of Earl Carey. Mr. Brougham, and Mr. iturke. Ile said,
when the people found their incomes :educed by the operation
of the law. they hod a right to say to Government that they
ape, f lei relief- leaving it to the Government to devise the melind
•
of carrying their expressed wishes into effect. There was no doubt
but deep distress prevailed to an extent of which few were aware.
lie. ass member of the Relief f amimittee, had some opportunity
of whet-ening such scenes of misery, as, it' he were to unfold,
mead harrow up their very souls. And, great as the distress was
is Manchester, it was still greater in ROMe of the eurrountimg
Iberian. In Burnley, nut of a population of 11,000, there sire
lideni receiving relief. Under such circumstances, be thought it
incumbent en the people to demand the severest retrenchment of
the public expenditure. (Cheers.) Mr. Potter then moved—
Ist. That this town, and the manitfacturing districts of which it
it die centre and the mart, are suffering at the present moment un-
eire the pretence of distress, which is wholly unexampled in its ex-
tent oat duration, 'which has already brought to insolvency and
non great numbers of manufacturers, and dealers, and merchants,
whose norm acquisitions appeared to have placed them beyond the
reach et* embarroesment ; which is daily augmenting the difficulties
of three whom it has not yet overwhelmed; which has deprived of
all employment many thousands of skilful and industrious families
of the labouring Meisel, degrading them into miserable dependents
on the scanty pittance furnished by the poor rates, and by charita-
he relief; which is continually adding to the number of those who
am so dependent ; which is, at the same time, gradually forcing
down into the racks of the neresnitous many of the persorre by
whom those rates have been paid, and the relief has been given ;
and which is thus threatening to involve in all the horrors of star-
vation this most tlikklya copied portion of the three kingdoms."
Mr. DAVID IIOI.T seconded the revolution, and bore testimony
to the accuracy of the a atement which had been made respecting
the prevailing distress, to which bethought the attention of Govern-
ment, and of all classes of the people, should be inemedia.ely di-
rected.
31r. LILLY. a corn-dealer, thought the Meeting had been pre-
etstately called; and be also thought that the subject of national
expenditure, if intowhiced into the intended address, would colt
likes too.eoged sword. In his opinion, the subject of the fern
1.1111, and that of the national expenditure, should be kept
meant&
litre there was considerable disapprobation evinced by the
nleeting. and Mr. Lilly found it difficult to proceed. The Chair.
wan condemned the interruption, and said. if the sentiments of Mr.
Lilly roe rot in accordance with those of the Meeting, It would be
easy to show it when the Resolution was put to the vote. (Hear.)
Mr. la 1.1. Y resumed, and expressed his regret that the Meeting
had not been called by the authorities. (Hisses.) His great ob-
jection to any expression of opinion on the Corn Laws was, that if
the manufacturers commenced the work of calling public meetings,
the agricultural interests would form associations to counteract the
manufacturers, and the County Members would be sent into Par-
liament pledged against the repeal of the Corn Laws, as ninny of
them now were against the Catholic Question. (Ilium.)
[Mr. Lilly's observations were frequently inaudible in conse-
quence of the uproar which prevailed during his speech ; he con-
cluded by inning an adjournment for three months, which Reso-
lueinn was not seconded.)
f The CHAIRMAN then put Mr. Potter's resolution, which was
carried.
31e. J. SHUTTLEWORTH Mlle, in furtherance of the objects of
the Meeting, to propose a resolution against the Corn Law.,
and he did so with perfect satierection, because he thought no
other subject surpassed that of the Corn lows in importance,
whether the injuries which they inflicted in their rations modifi-
cations. or the advantages of their tepee', were considered ; anti
In investigeing the subject, it would appear that the conduct of
' Parliament was not deserving public approbation. The growers
i of con were the legislation, and their acts proved that they were
suit auperior to the selfish and sinister interest, hut wished to float
on the outface of society like Leander on the Hellespont, at once
the plot, passenger, and bark. (Hear, hear.) With respect to
the argument, that taxation required en Laws, lie would say.
that temps fall as heavily on manufactures as on corn—and
I my argument in termer of corn, derived from taxation.
4 must be cmdined to those taxes which apply exclusively
to it ; and he would ask:what were these at preterit e They were
I scarcely any. The Corn tee' were passed as a protection and
indemnity against 13 or 16 millions of taxes, which were since
#
rerealed; and, unless the country opposed the landed proprietors,
they would succeed in retaining the equivalent after the taxes
were repealed. (('heers.) From the best calculations which
nod been matte, lii millions were paid in this country for corn,
over and shove what it was sortie elsewhere. Such a claim as
this., or, the part of the agricultural interest, was monstrous, he-
. tied all parallel in history. Ile knew of nothing to compare
well the spirit which retested the agricultural interest, except
\
the Arab Chief mentioned by Voltaire, who wished not only
for every thing within his potter, but also for what belonged to
every body elec. (f;lteera.) It had been said, that other com.
melnics, besides corn, had protecting duties. There niay be some
Co set a value on such patronage, but he was confident it
I was the feeling of manufacturers generally, that they deplored
R,ch parroorge. (Cheering.) The trading interests of the pre-
tent day were not liable for the restrictions on commercial
Very : they ought rather to be compensated for the losses sus-
tained by such regulations. 11 we prevented imports, we pre-
vented exports, and loot all that might be made by the exchange—
theen. Whilst, as manufacturers, we tall for a repeal of pro-
letting duties, let us disclaim all protection for ourselves but the
cheap administration of laws which secured the possession of
Property, liberty, and life. (Applause.) From the extent and
'-.ante of itritt•h cnmmeree, from the insular situation of the
sountry, it must be the granary of Europe, if the Corn Laws were
neneeled. It was now understood that several Members of the
ettthinet were dote mined to modify these laws ; and in confirma-
tion of this, he would refer fo the following extract of a speech of
Mr. Ilu.ki,on, at the Liverpool election :
" That tne commercial measure'', for which lie was responsible,
had been undertaken by him, that be might show the landed to-
lerant that they took an erroneous view of the eubject, if they
:likened that their monopoly could any Langer he allowed to mend
on the same foundation as that on which It rested in 18111. These
measure; had, hi his opinion, prepared the way for a safe alters-
nott is the Cons Lawn, under such regulations, with respect to
dory, as would secure, at a moderate, reasonable, and steady price,
a sufficient supply of that first article of consumption, and thus
enure that which was the only legitimate foundation of power and
steam of wealth. namely, comparative care and comfort to the
lamming classes."
It was necessary that such opinions should be supported against
the landed interest, and it was further necessary to wee that sup-
Pori with all the spirit and energy which was called for to break
down an odious monopoly. lie then moved—
•• that, in the opinion of this Meeting, the alarming dieters in
the neighbouring districts cannot be effectually remedied without a
change in those laws which forbid the importation of foreign corn,
until corn of home gmwth shall here attained a price which it is
impossible for the people of this country to pay ; widen lame, there-
free, amount to en exclusion of that corn, and which exclusion
"ewes to the injury of the manufacturing classes, end of the na-
hen at large, in the four following ways :—lst. in enhancing pro-
anibusly the prices of the prime necessaries of life. ad, In shut-
ting out from British markets all those foreigners of various nations
*nose need of the goods which we make is surpassed only by our
P;efti of tile enan which they offer in exchange. :ad, In making it
hte 'roam of those nations to encourage, by all possible means,
the e Progresoof native manufactures ; thus not only depriving us of
!ft..' trade of supplying their wants. but raising them up against tie
into most dangerous ovals in the trade of supplying the wane' of
tee other countries, the markets of which are equally open to all ;
4'l 4thie. In intrxlucing the spirit and practice of hnzaedous tope.
en_htion into the formerly steady and regular business of all permits
r",cerned in raising or emoting the products of the land, making the
Panic:ire even of the farmer, and the supply of the fruits of the
',rib, to depend, not upon, the industry of man, ner on the bounty

of the seasons, but upon a system of averages, managed with so
much falivehood and fraud, as to produce the most deceptive and in-
jurious results."
Mr. 31. PHILLIPS rose to second the resolution; and alibough
he appeared in the dubious character of manufacturer and landed
proprietor, he had no hesitation in saying, that whatever other
causes, besides the torn Laws. contributed to the present distress.
there could be no remedy without an alteration of those laws ; and
even that measure, without a reduction of taxation, would not hate
the desired effect. Those two great measures were absolutely ne-
cessary, in order to put the country on an equality with foreign
nations, anal then we might again arrive at that superiority, which
our skill and capital had enabled us to obtain.
Mr. 31•WIL1.111143 rose, and took out a paper, from which he
was attain to read an Address, in the commencement of which, he
stated, that he was a working man, unaccustomed to public speak-
ing, and therefore he sought the indulgence of the ;Betting, which
was granted with considerable liberality, whilst he travelled over a
variety of topics. At length the meeting became impatient, and
when be was comparing the Civil List to the salary of the Prod-
dent of America, the Chairman reminded him of the subject be-
fore the Meeting, and at the suggestion of some other person he
withdrew.
The itetiolution was then put, and retried nnanimmialy.
Mr. A. PREXTICE said that after the picture which had been
drawn of the prevailing distress, he would not detain the gentlemen
present by dwelling further upon it; but the Meeting would only
tin half their duty if they stopped at suggesting a rem el of the
Corn Laws as the only remedy. The strong expression of feeling
%hitt would go forth respecting the Corn Laws would, he hoped,
be accompanied with a similar resolution on the subject of taxation.
is friend, Mr. Shuttlevrortli, had proved, in his eloquent discourse,
that the Corn Laws were a tax of 311 millions, or 71. Ins. on each
family in the nation ; but whatever be the amount of necessary
taxation, we should see that the money collected 'should not be ex-
pended in a wasteful and extravagant excess. (Hear, hear.) He
contended that, by a system of rigid economy, there might be a
saving to the State of ten millions. A century ago the whole ex-
penditure did not amount to four millions. The machinery of the
State was the only one that had not undergone eimplilication and
improvement. He hoped and believed the present Meeting would
be followed by various others, which, he was sure, would have a
great effect in preventing the gradual increase of the public expendi-
ture. lie then moved-
-311. That while ascribing so many evils to the operation of the
Corn Laws, this Meeting cannot retrain, at a time like the pre-
sent, front teetering their belief that much of the evil under which
the whole British people wirers is to be traced to the enormous
amount of the taxes levied in this kingdom ; an amount which,
to its present extent, this Meeting is strongly of opinion, is un-
necessary for the purpose of a Government anxious only to pro-
mote the public welfare, seeing that, besides the great auras ap-
plied in discharge of the interest of the national debt. a revenue
several times or great as the whole revenue of England is expended
in the maintenance, apparently designed to be perpetual, of an
immense standing army. in support of what the Ministers them-
selves have denominated the " dead weight ;" in the payment of
greatly dispropottioned salaries to the officers of state; in supply-
ing, by pensions and sinecures, the means of extravagance to great
numbers of individuals and families to whom the public never was
indebted fur any the smallest portion of service; and in various
other charges, for which the most prosperous condition any country
ever knew eauld furnish no excuse, and which, in this country,
after the exhaustion of a 2 rears' w sr, are as unjustifiable in their
principle as they are oppressive and destructive in their effects.
Mr. Cantor seconded the Resolution. lie thought the causes
of the distress were, a diminution of the currency, the corn laws,
and excess of taxation. It would tee impossible for this country so
compete with foreign nations, without a repeal of the corn laws;
and even Sir T. Lethbridge thought free trade should begin with
them.
The Resolution was then put, and carried unaeimously.
Mr. 11 Ake KY rose. to propose a Resolution on the subject of the
currency. It had been truly stated, dist the corn laws were op-
pressive, and the evils of taxation were also property complained
of; but he thought the fluctuations in the currency more oppressive
than either. This gentleman went into a long derail of the opera-
tions of the Bank of England, from the year 1797, to the present
time, with a view of showing their mischievous effects. Ile then
moved—
.l•h. That the enormous pressure of the Corn Laws, and the
taxes, has been aggravated to an incalculable extent by the
arbitrary changes that hare been made in the value of money by
the operation of the measure for causing a return to cash pay-
ments : the abstract wisdom and necessity of such measure,
however injurious in its immediate consequences, this Meeting
does not in the least dispute ; but which measure, being unac.
companied with any remission of taxes, or any alteration in the
Corn Laws, has had the effect of lowering (in many cases to less
than one-half) the prices of all descriptions of produce and of gond%
except those which the Cnrn Laws and the taxes hare unnaturally
kept tip, and of lessening in like proportion the income, the profits,
and the wages of every man, not dependent on the land and taxes.
Ale. Be e GESS seconded the Resolution. He stated, that out of
18 respectable calieo.printers io Cannon-street. within the last
eighteen months ten had stopped payment. and he attributed their
losses to the changes in the currency—The resolution was then
agreed to.
Mr. BENJAMIN HOLBROOK wished, in moving the next Re-
solution, to advert to some arguments which had been brought
forward against the proceedings of the present meeting ; it had been
said that the only effect of such meetings would be to urge the
agriculturists to obtain pledges front the Members whom they re-
turned, to vote against any repeal of the Corn Laws. Ile believed
such meeting would have another effect, that of supporting Mi-
nisters in the course they had taken. Ile then moved
" That for all these manifold and aggravated evils, this Meet-
ing is firmly of opinion no adequate and lasting remedy can be
applied, except by a repeal (as prompt and effectual as may be
consistent with the regard which is due to those interests which
have been created by the present artificial system, and which de-
pend upon it) of every law which enhances the price of bread,
and obstru:ts the manufacturing and commercial prosperity of the
nation ; and also by an immediate abolition of tuxes, to an amount
which this Meeting does not presume to specify, but which, to
produce the desired results. must be so great as to put as end to
all government expenditure, beyond that which shall he suited to
the altered value of money, and directly conducive to the freedom
and greatness of the kingdom ; that therefore an address and pe-
tition from Oda Meeting be presented to his Majesty, most earnestly
and respectfully stating those views, which this Meeting has
taken of the causes and remedies of the dreadful condition to
which these districts ere reduced, and most humbly beseeching
hint, that he will be graciously pleased to assemble the Parliament
forthwith, and to recommend the immediate adoption of those
great measures, which, and which only, can, in the opinion of this
Meeting, prevent his suffering and loyal people from being hurried
into the petits and the crimes of some awful convulsion, and which
only can restore permanent prosperity to all parts of his Majesty's
dominions."
Mr. FIELDING seconded the Resolution, which was carried
unaniniousiy.
It was then moved that the following Address be presented by a
Deputation, or in such other way as the Committee think proper
to adopt.
Thanks were then voted to the Chairman for his proper conduct
in the Chair, and thus peaceably has terminated a Meeting reaped-
ing which so much alarm had been entertained. It was conducted
with the utmost decorum and impartiality, if we except the inter-
ruption experienced by 31r. Lilly, which was strongly censured by
the Chairman.
ADDRESS.
" TO MIS MOST GRACIOUS MAJESTY. GEORGE Tire FOURTH,
OF THE UNITED KINGDOM OF GREAT BRITAIN AND
IRELAND, KING, DEFENDER OF THE FAITH, &c. &C. &c.
eaThe Address end Petitian of the Ley Payers of Mancheater,
at a Meeting held at the Manor Court House, this 17th day
of August, 182.6, pursuant to public advertisement for that
P
urpose
" Most humbly showeth—That your petitioners deem the time
to have arrived when it is their duty to lay before your Majesty a
statement of the distressed and alarming condition of a great par.
tion of your Majesty's subjects ; of the causes by which your peti-
tioners deem that condition to have been rocketed ; and of those
remedies, the timely application of which appears absolutely neces-
sary to prevent, in England, consequences as disastrous as any that
ever befell a civil:zed country.
* In discharge, therefore, of this their duty, your Petitioners
beg leave to state to your Majesty, that this town of Manchester,
and the great manufacturing districts of which it is the centre
and the mart. are now suffering under the pressure of distress,
which is wholly unexampled in its duration and extent ; that this
distress has already brought to insolvency and ruin great numbers
of ingenious and enterprising manufacturers and dealers and mer-
chants, whose holiest acquisitions had apparently placed them be-
yond the reach of embarrassment ; that it is daily augmenting and
multiplying the difficulties of those whom it has not yet over-
whelmed ; that it has deprived of all employment many thousands
of skilful and industrious families of the labouring classes; that it
has degraded them into miserable dependents on the scanty pit.
tance furnished by the poor-rates, and by charitable re'ief; that it
is continually adding to the number of claimants for this pioance,
while it is also forcing down into the ranks of the necessitous many
of the petsons by whom the rates have been paid, and the relief has
been {even ; that while, from this cause, the legal fund for the
poor has been becoming less productive, the fund created by cha-
rity is almost totally exhausteal ; and that thus there is much rea-
son to fear that the approaching winter
-prore involved in all the
horrors of starvation this most thicklypled portion of your
31 el csty's dominions.
Your petitioners presume to represent to your Majesty their
decided opinion, that the alarming distress in the manufacturing
districts cannot be effectually remedied without a change in thieve
laws of this kingdom which forbid the importation of foreign
corn until corn of home growth shall have reached a price which
it Is impassible for the people of this country to pay ; which
laws therefore amount to a positive exclusion of that corn, and
which exclosion operates to the injury of the manufacturing
classes, and of the nation at large, in the four following ways:—
First, In enhancing prodigiously the prices of the pilaw neces-
saries of life. Second, Li diluting out from,, British markets all
those foreigners, of various nations, whose need of the goota
which your Majesty's subjects make is surpassed only by the
need of your Majesty's subjeent of the food which those
foreigners offer in exchange. Third, In making it the into-tat
of these nations to encourage, by all possible means, the progress
of native manufactures, thereby not only depriving Great Britain
of the trade of s applying their wants, but raising them up against
her, into most dangerous rivals, in supplying the want' of those
tither cote•b its; the markers ef which are qually open to all. And,

Fourth, In introducing the spirit Intl practice of hazardous adventure
into t"e formerly strode and regular Intslncvs or all persons con-
cerned in raring or selling the products of the land ; thus making
the surreys of the farmer, and the supply of the fruits of the earth,
tn depend, not nn the inittory of man, nor on the bounty of the
seasons, hut upon a system ot averages. which is managed so falsely
and fraudulently, as to produce the most deceptive and injurious
revolts.

s` While, however, your petitioners are ascribing PO many
evils to the laws against the importation of corn, they cannot re-
frain from declaring their delibera'e opinion, that another most
grievous cause of the misery under which the whole body of
your Majesty'a aubjects is suffering, is the enormous amount of
the taxes levied in this kingdom; an amount which, to its pre-
sent event. your petitioners are strongly of opinion, is unneeee.
wiry for the purpose of a Government anxious only to promote
the welfare of your Majesty's people; for your petitioners have
learned, by the annual accounts issued by your Al.jesty's Mi-
nisters, that, besples the sums applied in discharge of the in.
tereat on the national debt, a revenue, several times as great as
the whole revenue of England a century ago, is expended in
the maintenance (apparently designed to be perpetual) of yin im.
mense standing army; in the support of what rue Majesty's Mi-
nisters have denominated the " dead weight t" in the payment
of largely disproportioned salaries to some of the officers of state ;
in supplying, by peasiona and sinecures, the means of extrava-
gance to great numbers of individuals and families from whom
the public have never received any the smallest portion of ger.
vice ; and in various other charges, for which, as your petitioners
humbly beg leave to submit to your Majesty, the most prosperous
condition that any country ever knew could furnish no excuse,
and which, in this country, after the exhaustion of a twentyslive
'cam' sae, appear to your humble petitioners to be as unjusti-
fiable in their principle as they are oppressive and tuinous in their
effects. . .

" Your petitioners most humbly state to your Majesty their
full conviction, that the enormous pressure of the Corn Laws, and
of the sacs, has been aggravated, to an incalculable extent, by
the arbitrary changes in the value of money, produced by the
operation of the manure for causing a return to cash napments.
Your petitioners, so far from disputing the wisdom or necessity
of this measure, have long borne lo.silance Use injury of its im-
mediate consequences, and been willing to make great sacrifices,
in order that a circulating medium of full intrinsic value might be
established throughout the kingdom. Hut this great measure, so
necesrary,•ao wise, and no just in itself, having been unaccompanied
by anyOreminsion of taxes, or any alteration of the Coro Laws, has
hail the elf, ct of lovrerieg (in many eases to less than one-half) the
prices of all descriptions of produce, and of goods, except those
which the Corn Laws and the taxes have unnaturally kept ups
and of kenning, in like proportion. the income, the profits, and
the wags of every man not a landlord, nor a dependent on the
taxes.

"Sectitg, therefore, that the manifold and aggravated evils which
your petitioners have humbly set forth to your tll tjesty appear to
have arisen from those causes to which your petitioners have re-
ferred them. your petitioners are firmly of opinion, that an ade-
quate and lastirg remedy Is to be found only in the repeal (aa
prompt and effectual as may be consistent with the regard which is
due to those intere.ts that have arisen out of the present artificial
system, and that dercnd upna it) of every law which enhances
the price of bread, and (instructs the manufaruring and com-
mercial prosperity of Great Britain. and also the immediate
abolition of taxes to an amount which your petitioners do not
presume to specify; but which, that it tray produce the desired
results, must be sufficiently great to put an end to all national
expentiiture beyond that which shall be suited to the altered value
of money, and directly conducive to the freedom and greatness of
the kingdom. Your petitioaers. therefore, most earnestly beseech
your Majesty to assemble the Parliament forthwith, and to re.
corn ..end the immediate adoption of those great measures Which,
and which only, can, as your petitioners are fully convinced; pre.
vent your suffering but loyal people from being hurried into this
perils and the crimes of some awful convulsion, and which only can
restore permanent prosperity to all parts of your blajesty's do-
minion..
" And your petitioners shall ever pray."