The National Register.
London, England, 1820-06-04 00:00:00

AGRICULTURAL CLAIMS.

A sort of manifesto has been just put forth by
the • Committee of the Agricultural Associations,
purporting to be the Report of Mr. George 1.%
Hall. Its assertions ai eof the must sweeping cha-
racter: its cAniclus.osis are proclaimed as discoveries;
and atone of tritoiteli is assumed well calculated to
at te r,t he intere-steu, and convert the unreflecting.
This Foduction challenges inquiry. It has been

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:THE NATIONAL REGISTER:

sent to every Member of Parliament ; and to every
Editor of a Newspaper throughout the kingdom.
Our readers will perceive that the conclusions of
Mr. flail are founded upon the very able and moat
laborious work of Dr. Colquhon ; that the researches
of this celebrated writer on statistics have slumbered
since 1814, as far as they told for the Agriculturists
—but that. a light has been shed over them by the
genius of the Secretary to the Agricultural Associ-
ations, which is to put out the eyes of all objectors.
To reduce the statements of Mr. Hall to a narrow
compass, they are intended to prove-
-Ist. That the property createil in Great Britain
and Ireland. in the year 1519—13, by Agri-
tun, in sU its branches, was £216,817,694
By Mines, Minerals, Coals, &c 9,000,000

Total from the Soil £223,817,624
2d. That of this sum. after deducting all the ex-
pellees of labour, working-cattle. seed, pours
rates, taxes. dm. the profit of the Land-
owners and Cultivators, was £99,810.60
3d. That the introduction since 1814 of Foreign
Produce, Duty-free. has diminished the va-
lue of Agriculture Produce one-third, or the
£72,272,541
sum of
4th. That the Surplus Profits of every other
Branch of Industry—Autufactures, Inland
Trade, Banks. &c. &c. was, in 1813, 0n1y... £28,023,468
To prevent every possibility of mistake as to the
conclusions which Mr. Hall infers from these state-
ments, we think it right to select the concluding
passage of his Report
• The data which Doctor Colquhoun has afforded me are cor-
roborated and borne out in every instance by the payments to the
property tax; anti from the statement of profits respectively
which I have formed, we have this glorious result. viz. that the
cultivators of the soil of the United Kingdom. did. by their
skill. capital. and industry, employed in agriculture in 1813,
earn for the land-owners, the Clergy, and themselves, a net deer
profit 4499,810,6081. ; while in the same period, all the boasted
results of all the commerce and manufactures of the United
Kingdom, both at home and abroad, amounted no to more than a
profit of 211.086.468 L
• If this statement will not convince the Legislature, hie
Majesty's blinistoes, and the British pudic, of the justice. the
policy, sod nooomity of equal protection for the skill. capital,
sad moo of the cultivators of -the soil, with the merchants
nod awaulholonsesolothing but a continuation of their present
side. can do ea. For it is as clear as facts and figures can
demonstrate, that if the productions of our own soil have depre-
dated one-thirdin value per annum since 1813, by the introduc-
tion of ihoelp_produce duty-free, then has it cost this nation the
third part of 11111,817,6241. or the sum of 72,272,540. per
annum for the single purpose of enabling our merchants and
manufacturers to vend from 10 to 15,900,0001. worth of their
commodities in foreign markets, whereby a profit of a million
and a half. or at most two millions sterling may be gained, to set
against the awful depreciation of 74,475,5411.
We might have gone very far with Mr. George
Webb Hall to have agreed that such a depreciation
was indeed alarming ;—and we apprehend that many
have been of the seine opinion. But it occurred to
us to examine at what standard Dr. Colquhoun fixed
the prices of Agricultural Produce in 1812-1 s ; as
the ratio of estimating its aggregate amount. We
were perfectly astonished to find that in Dr. Col-
quhoun's tables, the several kinds of grain are taken
at fifty per cent. less than the average prices in the
public markets of the 12th of September, 1812: as
a fair and permanent standard of the price of grain.
The prices upon which Dr. Colphoun builds the
very table which Mr. Hall thinks so conclusive are
as follows :

s. d.
70 6 per quitter.
n 0

Barley
Oats ..to 0
Rye 43 10
Beans and Peas .35 10
To put the argument in the clearest light we
subjoin, from the London Gazette, the aggregate
average prices preceding the 15th of May, 1820,
by which Importation is regulated in Great Britain,
and by which the Ports are closed to the 15th of
August next :
Wheat 63 10 per quarter
Barley 35 1

Rye 43 1
Beans 42 7
Peas 46 5
And thus, instead of a depreciation of one third
upon the calculations of Dr. Colquhoun, agricultu-
ral produce has not been depreciated one per cent.
from the price this statistical writer set as a perma-
nent standard, producing the estimate of new pro.
perty created annually from the soil as 225,817,6241.
—or in other words, that only one per cent. instead
of one third, is to be deducted from the 99,840,6u81.
which Mr. Hull assigns as the profits of the land.
owners and cultivators of that period ! It' Mr.
Hall thinks so highly of these estimated profits in
1812, he must be perfectly satisfied with their
amount in 1820. Or has he nut really a concealed
longing for thove enormous prices which Dr. Co;
quhoun thought admitted a depreciation of 50 per
cent. ? If the actual prices of 1812 were returned
to, a tax of above One Hundred Millions would be
imposed upon the whole kingdom by the complaining
agriculturists.
The question between the agriculturists and the
manufacturers is simply this :—whether all foreign
commerce is to be swallowed up and destroyed by
an advance in the price of food, causing a necessary
ad ance in the price of labour ; or, on the other
hand, whether the cultivation of the soil is to be dis-
couraged, by a reduct►on of the cost of food below a
remunerating price, to enable the manufacturers to
proportionately' diminish the wages of labour. It i

fur all wise and humane persons to hold the balance
between these contending parties. It is manifest
that any attempt to injure the one must recoil on the
other ; that if bread is unreasonably high, manufac-
tures and commerce must decline, and there must
be a consequent declension of the demand for food ;
and that, on the other hand, if bread is unreasonably
cheap, the land-owner and cultivator must neces-
sarily reduce their expenditure, and that the ma-
nufacturer must in consequence find a reduced
market for his commodity. It is the ordination of
an all-wise and beneficent Provieence that man is
dependent upon msn in every degree of society ;
and that no one rank or class can be naturally ele-
vated or unnaturally depressed, without a corres-
ponding injury to the whole social system. Let us
not seek to disturb this merciful provision!

IRELAND.
THE F anuaes.--Cork, May 27.—The scenes
of distress which this City has presented since the
stoppage of two extensive Banking.houses„ whose
issues of paper forms a great portion of the circu-
lating medium of the South of Ireland, are moment..
arily multiplying, and we grieve to say, that no
prospect of alleviation opens to the view to cheer or
to encourage. It is too soon to expect any report
from those gentlemen who undertook to examine the
state of Messrs. Leslie's affairs. But the public
expectation, in such an emergent crisis, exceeds all
reason, and the result is looked for with much
anxiety. In the mean time considerable relief has
beau experienced by the partial acceptance of the
notes of this house, in several merchants' offices and
retail shops, without, as we learn, any material
charge being made thereon. More than one res•
pectable house are said to have suspended payment,
and, from the total want of the means of payment,
employment may be said altogether to have ceased.
The streets, from this cause, as well as from the
numbers arriving from the country, and the grouper
who are sure to collect on such occasions, are
extremely crowded, and tales of distress and despair-
ing countenances meet the ear and the eye at every
corner. Last night there was some indication of
tumult outside the house of Messrs. Roche, but it
was confined to a few individuals, and was soon
interrupted by the arrival of the sheriffs, high con-
stables, a number of peace officers, and we regret to
observe, some military. Two or three persons mere
conveyed to bridewell, and their appearance, as
they were conducted along, indicated that they had
received some blows, This morning the streets
have exhibited similar scenes to those of the last two
days, but the crowd is not so great as it was antici-
pated it would have been owing to its being market-
day. As a proof of the universal apprehension and
want of confidence which prevail, it was distressing
to observe the numbers who flocked to the Savings
Bank this day, for the purpose of drawing their
deposits.
Coax, hay' past four o'clock, Saturday...We Just
learn the result of the meeting of those gentlemen
who undertook to examine the state of Messrs.
Leslie's affairs. A deputation, consisting of Messrs.
Crawford and Gerard Callaghan, have been appointed
to repair to Dublin immediately, to wait on the
Lord Lieutenant, for the purpose of soliciting a loan
of 100,0001. to be vested in managers, and lent out
by them on approved securities or deposits. The
Deputation leaves this City on Monday morning.
" Letters from Cork and Limerick," says the
Dublin Evening Post, " speak of the consternation
in those cities, in consequence of the recent failures
there. There is no apprehension, we are happy to
understand, entertained as to the bank of Mr. Pike,
of Cork; or Mr. Roche, of Limerick. The latter
house was open last Sunday, from seven o'clock in
the morning until evening, for the purpose of pay-
ing. Mr. Pike had comparatively few notes in cir-
culation. There is no run upon any of the Dublin
Banks.
Stoppage of a Limerick Bank —Saturday last,
the Bank of Messrs. Maunsell, Kennedy, and Maun-
sell, of Limerick, stopped payment, " In conse-
quence of the sudden and great pressure upon the
Bank, resulting from the very unexpected suspension
of payments of the two late banks; but they will
avail themselves of the earliest opportunity to sub-
mit a statement of their affairs to the public, which
they have no doubt will afford perfect satisfaction,
andinsure that confidence and support which they
have hitherto experienced," A meeting of the
landed and commercial interest was to be held at
the Commercial-buildings, fur the purpose of ap-
pointing a committee, to investigate the affairs of
the Rank of Nlessrs. Mailmen, Kennedy, and
Maunscll, and to report thereon.

On Saturday night last, between 11 and 12
o'clock, as Mr. Jame& Shaw, a respectable termer of
Brenningtun, near Lhesterlield, was returning home
after having received a considerable sum of money,
he was attacked within a quarter of. a mile of bit
own house, and robbod of 4pwarda of 7001. in coun-
try bank notes.

.11

L4W REPORT.

COURT OF KING'S BENCH, JUNE 2.

This being the first day of Trinity I'erin, the Judges
took their seats with the usual formality. Bail was jos
tified before Mr. Justice Holroyd some time previous to
the arrival of the Chief Justice.
IN re CLEIIIINT.
Mr. Platt said, he was instructed to move in the mat-
ter of Mr. Clement for a Certiorari, to be directed to the
Judges in the late commission at the Old Briley, or
Mr. Shelton their clerk, calling on him to return the
orders made on Mr. Clement to appear before
that Court, also an order for she fine to be paid by Mr.
Clement. lie was desirous of removing the three orders
made on It r. Clement into this Court.
Chief.lo,tice—Does the order for the fine still remain,
or •has the fine been estreated into the Court of Lxchc•
quer t
Mr. Platt.—if it does not, my Lord, the application
will fall to the ground.
Chief Justice.—Yes, Mr. Platt; but before we grant
the writ, we •t know whether the order remains
there or whether it is gone.
Mr. Justice Bryly.—lt cannot produce much delay to
inquire.
Chief Justice.—You can be informed by to-mor-

row.

_
Mr. Platt then said, he understood the order still
remained in that Court.

Chief Jus:ice•—You must have an affidavit of the
fact.

Mr. Platt then asked if the Court would allow him to
mention it again at the rising of the Court.
The Chico Justice said, if there was time the Court
would hear him.
At four o'clock, as the Court was rising, Mr. Platt
again brought on the subject. He said he had found
that a search was made yesterday, and that the orders
still remained in the Court from whence they issued.
He bad an affidavit of the fact.

The Chief Justice.—Take a rule to shew cause.
Mr, Platt.—Will the Court allow the rule for a writ
of Certiorari to be absolute.

Chief Justice.—You can only have a rule to shcw
cause-
Mr. Platt.—Your Lordships will perhaps allow me to
stay proceedings ad interim.
ChiefJustiee.—We have really gone as far as we can
go; ‘Ve have gone ton far.

tiolice.

MANSION-HOUSE.

JAC, KETCII.—On Monday James hotting, who for-
merly oduciated•at the Old Bailey, as executioner, but
who is now deprived of the command of his right hand,
and in fact of one half his body, by the Divine will,
was carried to the Justice Room to give evidence against
a petson of having forged his name, and defrauded hint
of a sum for money. Jack, though labouring under
great bodily affliction, wits quite free Irons mental in-
firmity.
A check upon the house of Everett and Co. for 101.
purporting to be signed Ity Jack, was produced by a
clerk.of the house, who could not say that the prisoner
was the person who had received the sum. The writ-
ing was not Jack's, for Jack is not able to write.
r. Blackburn, one of the Guardians of the Poor of
the Parish of Shoreditch, said, that lie was upon the
Committee appointed to examine those who applied fur
parish relief. In the month of March, Boning was
brought before him in a state of great wietchedness Ly
the prisoner, and taken into the house. After the lapse
of a few weeks the trustees were informed that Bolting
load some property, and that the prisoner was turning
it to his own account. Upon inquiry it was found that
the prisoner had disposed of Butting in the above men-
tioned manlier, with the view of having the unpartici-
pated possession of about 3001. and some fur ttttt ire,
which were the profit) of the unfortunate man's labo-
rious and awful profession, and after further search, it
was ascertained that 101. was paid on Saturday to the
prisoner, upon a forged draft. It appeared also, that
the prisoner had taken Boning wider his protection,
and had written to a gentleman at Brighton, who held
3001 the money of Buttitig, to have itic I/I incipal paid,
upon winch the complainant was for three years re-
ceiving the interest. Booing required great care iii his
unfortunate condition. The knowledge of those sir•
cunistances arose iron► the investigation made to pro-
tect the parish funds.
Bolting stated to the Lord Mayor, who looked very
narrowly into this case, that there were 3001. due to
him by a gentleman at Brightoo. He did hot touch a
halfpenny I the principal, but had received interest for
about three years. He never authorised any body to
receive any of the principal, nor did he sign ally order
upon the banking-house where he received the interest,
for the payment of the principal or ally part of it.—
Since his illness he had empowered the pilsoner to re-
ceive the interest for him, but nothing inure, and to
sign a receipt for it in his name. Tile last time the pri-
soner went to receive the interest, he told wllnes• 01)011
his return he could not get it. lie however gave him
while in the woi kliouse a few shillings to boy tear—
% insets, in consideration of the trouble which his ill-
ness bad occasioned, signed a will, which would leave
in the possession of plisener the whole amount of his
property. Ile had however, trim!) learning the conduct
of the man, made a revocation of the will, and now
wished to he left ter the care of the parish, the over-
seers of which would, he knew, give him plenty to
eat.
The prisoner said in his defence, that Botting had
authorised him to take the money he was charged with
having obtained dishonestly in part of payment of great
services he had done the afflicted man in his adversity;
that Bolting had been under his protection since July,