The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1820-04-27 00:00:00

NEST RENT
AGRICULTURAL MEETING.

A numerous and highly respectable meeting of
the Landed Interest of %Vest Kent was holden at
the Star Inn, Maidstone, on Thursday last, to take
into consideration the present depressed state of
Agriculture.
Soon after H o'clock, Jeans Ewa, Esq. rose
and briefly stated, that the meeting was called by
few friends to agriculture, and he proposod John
Calor, Esq. Chsiraitan, which being seconded, was
carried usissiimously.
Alter the Chairman had taken his seat.
Alleaj.ess pepsin row sadthis lostappas
fartandlily lor him, wanted no explanation, it vim
evident something must he done to protect the
farmitigiiiterests. Souse Gentlemen had drawn up
ssevertil Resolutions sod a Petition, which he beg-
ged might be read.
The Resolutions nod Petition were then read,
and severally put to the company, all of which
passed unanimously.
On the Resolution passing that the County
Members be requested to present the Petition—
W. P. HONTWOOD, Esq. rove and said, on the
present occasion it was needless fur him to say ally
thing; he seri convinced of the necessity of some
measures being adopted for the relief of agricul-
ture. He regretted 'much the absence of his
worthy colleague (Sir E. Kinitchbull), as notbiag
but a severe and protracted illness prevented his
intending that day. With regard to the Petition,
he would give it every possible support, and should
always be happy to protuote the best interests of the
county.
Mr. ELLts stated, in confirmation of what had
fallen from the Hun. Member. that he had that
morning receives! a letter from Sir Edward Knetch.
hull, stating his inability, from ill health, of attend-
ing the meeting, but that he should be in London
at the end of the week, and that lie would give the
Petition hie warmest support.
Or On the thanks of the meeting being given to the
County Members fur their promised support,
Mr. Hoe TWOOD again expressed his regret at the
absence of his Honourable Colleague, who, he said,
was as warmly attached to their cause as he (Mr.
Honywood) was, not only from iuclination, but duty
also. For Ins own part, he should always most
readily and happily attend to the wishes of his cote.
stituents. and he hoped that all his public acts
would meet wish their approbation.
Ritmo. A Len: T, Esq. in rising to propose that
the thanks of the Meeting be given to the Chair.
mass. soul, that he was rejoiced on his (the Chair-
mine.) account that he had had so little trouble,
but lie himself was sorry on account of the coun-
try, for he could scot but grieve that there was so
pressing an occesi )))) for unanimity. aid he felt con-
fident that if every farmer ill the county was et the
Meeting, that there would out be a dissentient voice
at to the necessity of the petition which had just
been proposed. It was impossible for any body to
live in the country, unless something was done to
relieve the !soiled interests. lie did hope that the
Legislatuse would see the necessity of Bilious be-
ing fed by British corn, and that they would at
last afford proteciion to the British farmer. The
prospect in the agriculturist was most deplorable
when it Wl4 considered that wheat, the prime ne-
cessary of life, could not be _raised without the loss
of 100 per cent., at least that was the case in that
part of slit mildly its which lie lived. An acre of
wheat could
duce in 'even adjoining perished to. his hail not been
more than 61. ; and he was gent.: sure he spoke
within eompes• when he asserted that those iia-
far the heist three years. lied not Produced
their re I. !ma. and labour, sail the cultivator had
only ini:i..ssed upon the ditninution of his capital, a
sysiem which Insist be productive of loud and speedy
r.iin. It ears nut only the Gentlemen who pommelled

111110 J

PAICE Id.

large landed property, brit there was a class of little
farmers who were feeling the distress co .s.rlerae
bly. If such persons as were these a‘erruieled
needed protection, and who hunt their appeerairce
.reined not to feel so much the necessity of such
a measure, how much stronger must it be felt
by the occupiers of little farms, who, wish the
greartst ecouwny and industry, could not lite,
whose eitustion was so much worse than tire I.e.
bower who toils from Monday to Saturday. as the
former has to add 'tryst anxiety of mind to 61.514
privatiens. not that the labourer feels any priva-
tions, as under the pr.-sera system he is hue
support. Through the visitaii iiii of Providence
they had had but scanty crops. and the Legtelrewie
hod nut protected them. He looked to. tivrt
Nlerting out only for the support of the Akriew:-
lurid interest, but the manufacturing •100. 1.4 there
was no use in the shopkeeper filling his shop if the
former had no money; for if the farmer had .e
the labourer had Done, and the manufactured gili 1%
might be spoiled in the shopkeeper's warehurree,
for they could not be purchreed. Time merruhic-
three by this time must have learnt, that the only
wealth of the country was the produce of the laud,
rod that gold and silver were merely the token* of
sacks of corn and cattle, which would be too cum-
bersome for the pocket. He hoped, that a. peti-
tions would be seat from every county, the Legis-
lature would at last attend to them. He con-
cluded by returning thanks to the County Members
for their promises of support.
THomas RYDER, Esq. was convinced of the pro-
priety pf petitioning Parliament. He entirely coin-
cided in what had been said by Mr. Allison, and
he lamented as much as any man could do the ne-
cessity of calling that Meeting.
Mr. Ews only regretted that his tongue could
not give uttermice to what he felt on this subject,
but all that he could do should be done to attain
their object.

. -
Mr. WINCH wished to know whether nny thing
respecting hops was embodied in the Petition, as
he considered a deduction of the hop duty w. 4
necessary. Where he resided (Hawkhu►st) there
was scarcely any thing but hops grown—hops was
the staple commodity of that part of the county.
They writ much burdened with poor, every one
could employ many more hand•. but they 114,1 ,rot
property to pay them. The poor-cos at the pre.
sent lime was more than twenty shillings iu the
pound. Mr. Winch war proceeding, when
The CHAIRMAN said the Petition bad already
been adopted; it stated agriculture in genvral,
and did not go into any particulars of corn,
hops, &c.
Mr. HONYWOOD said that the Chancellor of
the Exchequer held out no hopes whatever of any
part of the duty beivig taken off from hops, as the
state of the finances was at ►uch a low ebb that at
present such a thing was impossible.

A subscription woe then entered into to defray
the expenses of the Comtnittee attending the
General Meeting in London, and the Meetiiig
broke up.

SPAIN.

-...m.-
PROCLANATION BY THE ZING,
TO RIB SUBJECTS •CTOND THE SC/01.

" Swanton Aueatititne--Whoo, in the year 11114, my sr-
rival in the capital of Imperial Spain was announced, fatality
induced the restoration of certain imitating' which bag
and confirmed habits had caused we to regard as superior to
others, which, being snore ancient, were irreemscilably to ex-
isting prejudices, and could rot be muddied in any distinct
firms. The uehappy experieece of six yeses, and she dis-
graceful evils which went on accumulating ly those moots
which were deemed likely le pewillnee naiversl Iteppiors*--
the general complaints's( the people is both heson.piseres
and their ewe►getie deunnostratisias, roavinced me of the Ne-
cessity of returning back S. that line Trues which we had in-
cautiously deviated; sad seeing that the raml wish of the
nation, impelled by that principle which had distinguisbrd
and elevated it en the great stage of the world to that bright
which it •boold held among other whose, induced we to
adopt those sentiments, identifying myself amuse sincerely
sad cordially with them, sad cussed me is adopt, recuirnise.
and swear to, according to a spositatieous prapasitioo, the
Constitution formed in Cadiz by the General and Extraordi-
nary Cortes, and posclaisned in that city in 111Yreh 11011.
Nothing can possibly exceed my satisfactioa at the isnivrn...l
rejoicing which took place; sad the real heroic generosity of
tile people, who are susceptible of inns but taut of crape,
will quickly o►literate the recollections of poi evils. The
Spaniards at this day present a spectacle fur melenirslieni to
all Europe, solemnly Ordeal; themselves tit their constitu-
tional system, which justly estimates the reciprocal duce•
betimes the *Mica and the throne. A stale so amour:,
poised. tad feauded en the must durable haiis, us which
are bottomed alike tree liberty sad public credit, prnieeisi..o
that the new ionisation shall Gad their best security in
venerable and peritonea! result., combining the unproved
state of science with the dictates of sound policy, mod esta-
blishing the military and Naval strength of the nation on
principles which will render it the must effectually spplit
ble as circumstances shall require, sad bidding fair to rem°. e
is all things that respect sad cussideratius which we have lust.

" A new Rood of light is shed across both Epeeists hew.-
pheres, sod authiag cam exceed the refs*** binthioes.
which already illumines, or the ardour which is felt Alum the
sacred fire of patriotism. I cosigratolate myself as the fir..t
to feel this sweet and georrous emotion ,+ I also molt is
having to amsousice it; Red 1 cahoot you to haste to pejoy
such immerse berries, by arc/slag sod swearing to a Coo-
stitrtior which is framed for the felicity of )or sod yew..
I affirm to you, I 'seedier oisthisig, whea I foil that, by con.
firming this hadatneatal law, I shall secure your happiness;
amid, though it might be productive of evil to ale, 1 should
equally have acquiesced, persuaded that the honour of
jelly shark, weigh as imatinag ether placed is competition
with the public good.
" Americans! Too have greatly deviated (rum the line of
your true interest—yon feel by this time what your miscues.
duct has cost yes—thus? i11111114101.s prri
without end, saagoinery wars, frightful devastations, and oh,
extremities of all evils. Nothing has molted to you but
leers and griefs, turbulence, and beart-burousgs, cruel tin.
prisonmeuts, starvation, destructions by fire, devastation,
sad reheard-of harnars—ireemits which will but ems.'

grace upon you to (stare geoeratiess. What ran yiiii
from such' Hear the suethisgveioe of your Kier tad inth.r.
Expel that disquictinle and restless Iliilliflll4 which agitate
yule, sad replace those in year Meese by affectionate sad
generous elleti.tnts. No leave regard ',serener as a elf-
tete nor odious sainiesity as as obligaties. The two hem is-
phi:res have nothing isberest is them te prohibit lastiag and
reciprocal frleudships ; see is it is eaters that you, Iran
are true brothers, cat be esessies. You speak bat Me
Mae iangsage—rte prelim but the mos ftlogieu—yea are