The National Register.
London, England, 1818-09-28 00:00:00

No. 555.—V0L. XI.

ON AGRICULTURE, 4-c.

Sneech delivered ty the President of tle Workington
Sxs•ty, .1. C. culiwnv,
al the Distr;!):tixe thc Pre,ninins at the Annual
on Fri.lay, Avg. 21,1818.

The President with great animation eongratulated
tl-:: Society on the getiorally improved state of the
ccnntry since the last Inei7ig:—that agriculture, ma-
7::,:factures, and commerce, were in a more prosperous
camlition than during the preceling two years, were
undoubteilly tree—bat whether they were likely to
be permanently so, was a question of infinite import-
-3!..ce to every individual in the empire. All that
clergy and ithility can etrect synl not he e wontin on the part
of the people. That Great Britain poeaeased. assonledge
earl capital beyond all other si stions, would ant be qtieation-
el ; hilt as a counterpoise, she was hardened with taxation
,Laile in minima to that of any oilier civilized stale in En-
rape. The aggregate of government taxes, divided among
the whole population, eseerals 11. per head yearly ; flint eon.
setrience of which is, that the neeeaseries of life here are
higher in price than in :my territory on the continent. Many
attributed the national improvement to the discontinuance of
the property tax, the war tax nu malt, and a mitigation of the
t.:xes ou atricultnral horses; little attention. however, is
volutsite to perceive, that this is not the case—ler the pee-
l:out amount of the taxes, compared a ith the preseat actual
a t;regate interne of the country, is as nearly as possible the
s.cite. I)iii big the war the ior,nie of th-, violator WaS e•ii-
milted at 4'.0,039,0001.•—The taxes at one fifth ammo to
er,(10).0:)01. sterling. The depreciation le the value of all
tools of pro;•erty, which followed the conelusion of the war,
striick off nee quarter part of the income of the people.—
Thai ted11!t:01i ill labour, that great soul ce of the wealth of
Hiltons, tell from lea to Ito millions—the land and the ,:e. '
mural commerce el t if conotry fell about 40 million.' mere— i
off tat
once 1 - millions; tilltS the proPai tion which
iil.l
the reecced axation ante to the income was the saisie. 'fate
la:licence of the voice of the people on Parliament abolished
the property tax; but hail it tailed, that oppressive tax
could not in futtire has e hero collected.
That the eel Imiltitre, the ussuitractores and commerce of
the mlti). Nava revived, there Can be no question; tint au
important waxt reale behind. Ilan prosperity genet:x:ly dif-
fused ii,ulf throngh all t auks and orders? Does the prier of
labour hear a tine pi oportion in value to that at which the
necessaries of life are held tap? Certainly not. And yet an
iucrease to the labourers' wages Calillut, it is to be appre-
hended, tr.lae place, witliont hinging on the country, and the
peat body t.:' the 'wreak', more grievant-4 stitleriegs then what
they at present euthile. One third of British maitillautinee
goes to the simply of iiireign *tales; the Inritishing of which
tapenils malady ae.l entlrely on toe citeaptiess of labour ; the
only meal's hy *Well we are enabled to compete with other
comet, les. akdvanee taboos.. and the looms will cease to
work! Can any country he said to he in a prosperous condi•
ton when the working classes ate its a state of entfei ing ?
Tee intialtiolice, exertion•, and capital of the conutty arc
capahle of dais g tench ; but ttiey cannot effect impussiut-
lilies ; they will hate their oprt ati Se indolence with the agri
ceiturist, the matalifact neer, the merchant, and "nee:ionic, in
facilitatitag the general prosperity, but they cantata inoiledt.
atety improse the- condition of the labouring classes. A 'e-
duction tit the expenalitn.a. of Geverument, which would pro-
gres•ively reduce the ',relent enermusts taxation. can alone
restore the empire to a sound stave. 'it'c allificultira ere
great, lint art. not physical imposeibilities—they et he 1111.1,
0i111.011.11, and emiliii;hed Tile voice ut the people is compe-
tent to the '44c—they waist lieliciiiil anti respected. Many,
very many ale the 111eisSillgi of unr inimitable emistitntion I
there is no one under I
tor eon emiiparatile to it—but grievous'
and insup;iortable is the weight 01. lie litirdens. The teat.-
;aerate, yet firm demands of the people, can aline lestlaiai.
t tat sy-tens of wasteenl extravagance which has itiCieted %belt
r: nerd' soli tine. 'rite true havoinetir of national ptatiprrity
e...icis not in the splendoor of palaces, nor ean its plieWtamena
Ilie.re ascertain tilt bailout..., oh the lower, or the propel ity
or the middle ranks. A ten may Or in cony aftbseoce, hot the
at toy arc radioing the gieetast privations.
The Pro Aiilf tat took as oee.t.tiati to ray. that he lilt i: an
imperious daily to atlievt to witat he -rived to be the real
stile Of Ow e,ilialry. The ilanarr exists nit in exhibiting the
r-ctual condition ut the eqiiille, but it helot; deceived by 11:4.1"
toms repies.nieitisnis aad delusive hopes —it iv eel lainly more
agreeable in &Mr by parttolia.,:enitititit, that) to Ming under
review iliso2reeelile troth*. Diselaiti.l;ig 411 adeoc..cy oe ,oc.
ty. it iv.ii,t,re system which :be Presialeat repo otiateil—a
tt,stein wti:eli aa Ministers, he CP y whom they Islay, were
one., id:ral to li.ere rt....00tt.r t.o, 11:1J :lost so go% ei it Iticir cosi-
enet units: the teprenentation of the people remains as it is
of present. 'fhb imports at die*, whence mat of the Italia-
•-al evils tits', must ever be deettired by sill good meta having
a javl arose of their own sitiolienaute riAtit.„ eel lain it iv,
t i it eta pa rell•MMlik ads matte 4.411 rectoe to the vottoti y till
t.)e orikiii of 01l our pa:kneel evils be il;sotssitoottely coital-
tiered and itt el). joie away.
This basil! sesiew of the situation of the country (the
Pit:laden% oliacr veil) hecaate inicriii4try for the purpose of
ringing tinier ;011stilviali011 a 011111 Imile:truly comiecica
-0,01 el:: Obitits.t of this iwilitutitisi.— It is lilt .014.1:1110 1.11.1i1.1:-...
:oe end xt oct an :he tatinla that ope4ttett so 31114111e11, a.,
'ai4lity,, du ogres win lining a ellatilo, au the gt orial stilt, of
agricultare. li has been Conlelailtii :i.41 10.0 gii•At * c.ifitai
"ad been empiayeat to hi:shawls) —0,41 41111 pl• lilletio1131:14.
; eedea the eolpianiiiiiin SillCC tile 5114v1ii all war 110.1 CC.1,....1.
This opiittitit hail been rent este.l 1)) the presment, who had
tifeen in the bititt.e ut Continutii, that it Was Itlr Sllll4llll and
• Zi..11.11 04 via:let:en of the ci..t3:l.ittni cazdluia which laid