The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1820-01-05 00:00:00

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G I Reflections, suggested by Italy, seen in the Years
1818, 1819 ; some /termini of Julia. Claire, an Agricultural
Labourer and Poel.--Livisig Authors. No. 1 The Author
of the Scotch Novels; Molest Offer of Service from M. Bun-
mot to the Editor; Ancestral Eitormaties ; Memoirs of Mr.
Hardy Vasil ; Tumbstime Minimum, or Magazin des
Modes Munciroenialis at Paris; Influence of Religious sod
Patriotic Feeling ins Literature.—The Traveller, No. I,
Vevey; Advantages and Disadvantages' of Rome as a School
of Arts; French Criticism on • celebrated German Work;
Sea►ching the Tiber for Remains of Antiapity.—Letters
from Venice, No. I. The Venetian Natality; Farewell to
England; Miduicht Disurs.—The Collector, Nu. I. The
Ivy; Sonnet from Scarron ; Waiter, Hach—The Drama,
No. I. Notices of the Fine Arts ; Gleanings front the
Foreign JOUrtiall.Cf itiCiai Notice of Anintasios ; of Ivan-
hoe; and ..f the Sicilia■ Story, by !Barry Cornwall; Lite-
rary and Scientific Intelligence; Report of Music; Rural
Economies; Medical Report; Coiunieiclal Report; Histo-
rical au.) Critical Sioinnisry of Politic. Eveuts ; Colonial
liitetligence ; Public Docaments, &e. etc.

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MR. OWEN'S REPLY
TO THE SPEECH OF THE. CHANCELLOR OF
THE EXCHEQUER, ON SIR WILLIAM DE ORES.
PIGNY'S MOFION IN THE HOUSE OF COM-
MONS, I 6 DECEMBER, ISM

Ste—The speech which you delivered in the
House of Cointisons, in reply to Sir William de
Crespigity's motion for the appointment of* a Com-
mittee to investigate a Pion which I had to propose
for the Relief of the distressed Working Classes,
may probably lead to comequences of the deepest
interest to the well-being of mankind.
Our ultimate object is, I believe. the same ;
that is, to ameliorate the condition of society, on
Pound and rational system—on principles that will
bear the test of the most severe scrutiny. although
opposed by all the prejudices of localities.
Rot, that I may be the better understood on this
important subject, I will rodeitrour briefly to ex-
plain what I mean by the word localities, as it will
so frequently occur in this Letter.
Under this term I include the opinions end prin-
ciples, partly true and partly false. which every
in-
dividual imbibes. according to the country. climate,
government, mind rel.gion—clino, sect. and party.
under or iii which he was educated, at that period'
when the youthful d is utterly incapable of ra-
tionally exercising the power of volition, or to whose
influences he may have become in riper years. from
venous accidental, yet perks lilt uncoutrolable causes,
more or less subjected. Titus the Waddles of the
inhabitants of China would force upon his tender
mod, at the period of childhood rod youth. opi-
mons fsvourable to the piterual or despotic form of
government. to the religion and philosophy of Fu
and Confucius. whiht strum tumor stet or potty
would probably be found to share his snore party
cula► attochiateut and confidence; whilst the oohs-
bilious of New York would, from his pecans,
as devotedly ansuatoin those doctrines iss
veritummt winch oppose imruing, ascendancy.
With hint, the Majesty of the People is a iloetriue

not less eacred, than with a Chiuese it would be
tiessonable, if not blomolietnoos.
Uri the oilier hand. an inhabitant of the commw
oily of liortunity, in Imbrium, in the (Jutted SWIb
befog burn and nurtured in • society sue rouoded
with every inducement to virtuous conduct, and in
full immersion of comfort and plenty. can with digit.
colt>. realize the thought, that man is capable of area-
big himself to slaughter his fellow mast, or that he
C4ll he content to partake of luxuries the meet re.
tined and delicate, whilst he too well knows they
within a feta yards ..1 him dwell hundreds of his
brethren, wising in wont and wretchedness. You, Sir,
.1.1.11 y subjected, to this great law of nature,
having Item yourself equally surrounded by Ismaili
I •ceilities from infairct, which have impressed • caw
emboli ou your mind* Ilse; men C4ll be Glade bettor
and lesopier thaw they have yet been. solely by dry
adoption of certain seiitirastils„ which you have hero
forced to believe are true, by the localities in which
you happen to have been born and instructed.. View-
ing, as you do, through the medium of these peculiar
localities, the principles which I hove promolgsted,
you pronounce them to be subversive of the laws
and religion of this country ; aril by so doing, you
endeavour to arouse all the prejudices of British lo-
calities against me, and indispose men's minds to
consider the good which I labour to obtain for them.
I blame von toit for this conduct, fur I am quite sure
that your ii.tentions are pure and excellent. Yet it
appears to me to be a duty to persevere. and to en.
demvour to overcome these prejudices of localities,
which obstruct the path to true and subst.iiiiial
happiness. By.my rrimirks, I would not willingly
offend you or any one; but, placed as I win, by
your obtervatious, before the ryes of the world, and
at a period too whets that world, by our present pro-
ceedings, must be rendered either more mimrahle
Or more happy than it has tet been, I Wild a full
declaration of troth, as it is impressed ois my mind,
to he at the present period a duly parent to
every personal consideration. The principles which
I advocate have become so public, and are making
purls rapid progress through society, notwithstand-
ing a vote and temporary prejudice in the (louse
of C that if they are erroneous, their error
sl Id be instantly proved, and if my judgment
has been misled with re.pect to these priticipler,
there can be no individual more sincerely desirous
of being set right than I am ; sod I pubh,h this
letter to bring the subject to a fair issue. You
have said, that the principles which I have publicly
avowed are subversive of the Government and Res
!igloo of the country. It never was, Sir, my intro.
firm to injure the Government and Religion solider
which we live ; my object has been to withdraw
from both that which appeared to me to be their
defects and errors, and to withdraw them. not by
coercion and viiilenee, but gradually auci temper-
ately. under the direction of the Goveriuneut and
the Church.

It is wow nearly seven years since I distinctly saw
the necessity for this change, end since I openly and
fairly communicated these sentiments, without re-
serve, to the hands of the Church—to our own Go-
vernment—and to other Governments. I then re-
ceived encouragement from the►e parties to proceed
in the course which I had consmenced. and to this
hour I have not deviated from it. Yet, if I am
wrong, I willingly take to miself whatever blame
attaches to these procerdings,since they have arisen
from a thorough conviction of the truth of the-prin-
ciples on which they are founded—that conviction
still more confirmed by the favourable decision of
the mo►t acute and profound minds in this country
and in Europe; and also from a conviction of the
multiplied benefits that will arise f►om their adop-
tion in practice, both to the governors and go.

I will now submit the csuseof difference between
tie, to our couistry and to the world. Nay. Sir, so
strong it my conviction of the truth of the principles
on which 1 acji that prejudiced as I know you are.
by the localstin of your birth, education. and office
in the State, I could almost leave the decision to
your cool and deliberate judgment, and allow you
to hr judge its your own cause.
The principles and practice which I propose far
arlopti 111 l , insist, however. be tried by those whose
prejudices, from their localities. must be directly
in your farmer ; and against such almost invincible
prejudices nothing but truth, devoid of all error,
con have the sliglite.t chance of success; awl I an-
ticipate success solely on this ground.
The defects then, Sir, of our government. as
they appear to me, are those which more Mame-
diotely or remotely proceed from a single erroneous
principle. It is true it is an error of ancient date.
which has, according to existing records. entwined ,
itself around every government and religion
hitherto known to exist ; and it was therefore that
I publicly avowed, " that I was not of any re-
!igloo hitherto Wight in the world ;" b. cause they
all CallialllCCl much, yrs, very much error.
Tell me honestly, Sir, do you believe me to be
an enemy to any part of inosekiud, because I am
anxious to bring wider review that which appears,
to a conscientious mini, to be an error productive
of no good froit m practice. but of incalculable
evil and misery ? You. surely, will not condemn
any one for so acting.—ls not your oppwition to
hem who 'pow adpires-es you, founded oil the very
:sour nrincipl.• I The error, then, which 1 Jlll com-
pelled, by a strict adherence to truth, to lament in
our government. is that part of it which presumes
that the character of the individual is formed by
himself. Tin* error is, iu the first place, in direct
oppoastion to all the facts of which we possess any
accurate kirowledgr—st is also in direct opposition
to some of the wiiiciples, and to the best part of
the relogimi, which is the law of this land—and it is
the cause of the inconsistencies, visible to all, In
ties conduct of those who profess to be governed by
that 'diem ; it is the sees cause why these ism-
priweiules of waivers/I charity' acid hersevw
knee, with whiehut atreawds, have rem beta mete
in practice. Thor religion leaches ea, and yea.
Si,, profess it, that we caaaot do any thin of or
fur uarselseir; that the Ll:ity, directly or indirectly,

. •
Aims us into viiist we ore, sad shut plum ami
controls all our actions. Ned we real knowlttigik
so this subject, every hour brow lives Could ace.
Me.* to on4entaed this rat truth. owl its sinimin
fold practical benefits. (,oi.ld your dated. Sir, Iles
relieved min the almost oereirhatmang Warm
the localities of your birth, and &pissed eleortg
comprehend the real value of this funfassiontai
priuciple of your religion, you would contend ass
ardently for its singleness, dui that et oissoold sit
be denoted with opposing and isoconsistent doctrisses,
aa I have dom. as I now do, and, whilst the cos-
victims of its truth and value Maoist. 141,111 er
mind. as, I believe, I shall contioue to do to the
dintmy death.
localities in which jrna wee enveloped. pre-
vent per perceiving that the ermines, doctrine
thot.isissonforms Ala men enaracter," is tier sole
cause 6f all she anger. awl of the evil pasolons,
which now agitate the world; that the cowseipeenres
arising from tlois mistaken notion are prodnetive of
perpetual inconsisteacy in the Ammeter of all irbp
profess thernsehres to be Christians; and 'halt
most ioeritahly lead to conduct desuuctive of ge-
nuine charity, benevolence, and kindness. There
same localities, Sir, prevent your seeing the truth,
and practical benefits of the truth, " that the cha-
racter of every human being is. in all its parts,
formed for him ;" that the waist of this know.
ledge on the part of those who govern the world,
.hone retards the adoption of a system of peers,-
tarot founded on principles of science, which
would unerringly prevent the existeuse of those
crimes which hitherto it his been the chief basilica,
of the world to detect and punish.
Did you clearly understand this invaluable
truth, did were you fully aware of the certain con.
sequences winch most ensue from a general belief
of et, you would not attempt to raise any part of
the revenues of thew realms iu such a manner as
mutt. and does actually, deteriorate the mural cha-
racter, and. consequently, create MVO poverty.
grime, and misery. But it is to the cousequenees of
the great truth. 4' that man does not ATM his nuns
character," that I would direct your close and pro.
found attention, since it is from a superficial exist
initiation of the consequences of that doctrine, that
so many well.intentitniell (ft hive been at fitst
repelled from it ; whereas massy of the most ami.
ble sod intelligent of my early opposers stow pub.
licly acknowledge, that they ',derive nothing but
ultinitigled good in the consequences of this once
appalling doctrine.
May I be permitted then to edit, that by your
acts of comniission, or omission, you, as one of the
Members of the Government, may justly be and
to be one of the nitioceitt, yet rerun', occasions of
the poverty, crime, and suffering. which uoteitilltvg
the population of these kingdoms; for, ou an ex.
perience which Ho other individual has been per.
milted to attain. I dwelt th.tt you possess the most
ample means to give a new Character to the pea-
ple, greatly superior to any yet seen, and to stir.
round them, in a alma period, with pleuty and en.
joymente
I *tote these facts (such I know them to be)
" not to call down the spirit of persecution"—
(your word.)—on the Government, for my teal
desire has been, did is, to see this improved system
carried auto practice in all countries, by sinew who
happen to be in power, that the irrational anger and
irritation of the world may the more speedily cease.
It is not. therefore, to arouse a spirit of dinnosily
that I thus write, but, if pow•ible, to direct your
attention, said the attention of the Gore,' 1111 l tut,
to the extraordistary power that PROVIDENCE has
placed ill your hairdo in do good, and to allay the
present alarming and iucreasing irittatiou •of
society.
Let the people be instructed from infinry in a
knowledge that the character of every Individual is
formed fur him, did let all your other proceolitigs
be consistent with this fuodsinental principle, sad
your difficulties will speedily trr 11l i l me. Insterd of
the present system, which you must plant," perceive
is generating evil on all sides, a new one will rise
from your labours, which must prevent the creiri,o
of any of these evils, as it will destroy them in tittle
birth—where you have now auger, uppo.ition, turd
malevolent passions, you will have itiotinest. unity
•f action, and all the best feelings of human riatore.
Charity and benevolence will becompletr ; theyo4l
not then be hounded by the erltish circle sit our pr..
sent limited localities. Try ten thou. Ind other
sflieuses to make men better [lulu they are, or bare
been, and you will fail.
Permit me to ask what character do theme sect,.
riao tautiosui of locality, winch you and my truly
excellent friend, Mr. Wilberforce, °Noised to
the principles which I advocate, tend to fond in
swirly

Those who have had the brit means of honestly
and impartially appreciating them, know,the, wen
some satiable excep:ions, they cast prod., e no other
general character then well-iateotioned west usitsly.
with diseased imagination+, too often erratum rill.
glove vanity and spiritual pride, destructive eleound
judgment, social iotercouree, slid real irsosliesse.
When mei, whose characters have bees fume les
them, attempt to direct public *Gies' Nit
nue:aunts, which i believe they posses% Shay must
involve theineelvea and others is ineatsimare diffi c
ties and errors. Wetness the present criaii, etislyie
Minn which are actually created by the &robin:
measures which they support. In Oise freely stem%
my opinion of the tendency of these thirstier*. I ass
most desires* not to wound the &those ei imp tad*.
'Waal connected with the Evaugelical Party, for
airily of whom I enteritis sisters regard, friendship,
sad erection; but I appeal es the world if their
theories, opposed es tary are es facts valid' 'terve.
trdly sarreasid at, do not, at this aversess, prevent
the adeptiosi of • wise, energetic system of were-
west? A goveniesest which, iefteod of
Isniestiog evils, end soli% its pessesi is dolebOkr
sod punishing creels soissisi fess its ems iambus.
lily and were, shoeld be assively easployeil io de.
. Tieing sad meeting mesas to peeves* the exigible
of those errors sod crises, by smog • pipil