The National Register.
London, England, 1816-09-30 00:00:00

THE NATIONAL REGISTER.

SgPTEMI3En 80.

e slimily to the Church and Poor, a td not have such oppreisivi,
toir'heiss on the land alone. Is a word, prop up, support, and
encourage agrimits:;re. whi.di is the foundation of every fabric:,
Vie key-stone of the isidependanee and the absolute existene-
of
GJ sat Britain ; Agriculture and Commerce must shake hands
when this is done, foreign Competition in nor markets tory
probably be no I:mger found; we may (or then we undoubtedly
can) by low own industry maintain ours-Ives, and be made
once more an h 41'r y, indepentiont, esporting •sorn coesstry.
HENRY Boats.' 1.1..-11. the Bank of England ss(sCe more
Vivral in their discounts, it would have the Insist etiret on the
agricoltutal, as well as on the trading interest.

REV. DR. excess of paper beyond capital,
has been highly injurious to this neighbourhood : the circulation
was furred, and has of course failed. We have paper fully
Wirritiate to our ordinary tr3naartions; but more paper, which
was bona fide the representation of property, would give pro-
portionate relief.

•
GEORGY. TENNYSON, or LINCOLNIIMR Z.—l would suhmit to
the:.onsidetation of the Board, whether Government should Not
he urged to take twelve millions from the Brnk instead of six
millions, and appropriate half of it to the purchase of wheat
to be bonded, and sold out when it would make 41. per quarter.
It would not, I apprehend, make any ilitfeience to the Bank,
whether they lend us six millions at four per cent, or twelve
millions at two per cent. as theouni borrowed must continue in
circulation an long as their paper is a legal tender; even if Go-
vernment agreed to pay them four per cent. it would he justi-
fiable in relief of the present distresses. Many are anxious for
a hOnnty on the espottation of wheat, but though we were
wrong in the fret instance, in suffering so large 1 qtiantity of
foreign corn to come into this country, we should, I think, com-
mit as great a mistake by sending good wheat out again. We
should now keep it to prevent its becoming hereafter extrava-
guttly dear.

Damn Waan.—Foreign corn should be prohibited entirely,
as I am confident England could provide cone for herself. it
Agriculture was properly eneouraged. In 1814, when the
wheat was only half a crop throughout the kingdom, the price
ought to have risen to have remunerated the farmer for the bad-
ness of the crop; instead of that, importation is allowed, and
the farmers are almost ruined thereby. England has enriched
other countries, and almost ruined herse fby so doing. The
mercantile interest said, that when the Corn Bill passed it
would nun the trade et the country. Fur want of it passing
two years sooner than it did, the country is almost rained. The
mercantile interest now acknowledge, that if the farmers sink,
they can only just swim. But now, I hope, the mercantile
interest will support the fanning interest, as by so doing they
only indinctly support themselves. Was not all Europe asto-
nished how England carried on the war so long? I answer, it
was by the landed interest having so large a capital employed
in improving it, as enabled the country to carry it on; and al-
though the pressure was great upon the trade of the country,
still the trade of the country would have beensufficiently eased
in time of peace, without allowing foreign corn to come in to
r•in the country; for if the trade paid more for their bread,
the money would be returned to them again by the lauded in-
terest, instead of paying for foreign corn, and the money going
to entic:i other countries at the expence of our own. If the
credit of the country cannot be improved, money should be
reduced to tour per cent. If it ran be done without, it cer-
tainly ought, The remedy that I should propose, is fur the
landed interest to he relieved from taxation. Foreign cern to
be prohibited entirely.
Thomas Pro.t.re.—Under the Circumstances which present
themselves daily in every part of the kingdom, it is necessary
that every effort should he made to alleviate the distressed state
of agriculture: many gentlemen have lowered their rents, to
what amount I cannot say, but suppose about one-fifth ; but
the lowering of rents will not afford th.- chief that is required,
even if the landlords would reduce them one-halt'; the farmer
ought, from the produce of his land, to be enabled to employ
the labouring poor, or otherwise the country will all be very
sOOO poor together. The taxes may be levied, but they will
not long be paid—the fanners, instead of being able to employ
nod assist the poor, will very soon require support themselves;
and it is, I am sorry to say, the case with a great many at this
moment:

Josue PitIIIEINION.—As remedies, Ist, by the parish officers
and the magistrates more strictly adhering to the Act of Queen
Elizabeth, (vie.) to not allow a labourer his foil weekly main-
temente in collection, but to make them ears all they are able
to do, by work suitable for them, and only allow additional
collection fur the remainder of it; this, like all other things,
may he remedied by attention and application is the magistrates
snit overseers.
•
SIR ROST. SRCITIELD, BART.—It if difficult to devise any
scheme that does not in some measure relieve one body of
people at the expense of another. But keeping up the price
of corn will not hurt the whole mass of the people for poor) so
much as imagined. Land owners will spend their money at
home instead of emigrating for economy.
ROBERT BARK BR.--Where rents are high and parochial
assessments heavy, the produce of land, I am persuaded, wiO
fall short of answering the demands common visor it, should the
times continue as at present. But that I hope will not (entirely)
be the case; the present backwardness of the season, and, of
course, flue scarcity of keeping, t perate upon the
rives of cattle and sheep, which causes, it is Mir to hope and
es en conelnde, will soon be removed, when the effects at least
in some measure, will cease. And who knows what the ensuing
summer may do? The price of corn is ailvancieg, though lint
thnly ; sn 1 should wheat get up to iiss. or thereabouts, and
other grain in proport ion, which would be a nut tirsl toi.sequencv
there would he On very great cans- for exclaiming so much
acailist `'the badness at the times."
Jos. Jas. IlAltPKß.—The only remedy that can, in my opi-
niun, relieve the rainier and the labourer, is to being corn to
the price fixed by the Legislatto e last Session of Parliament,
which a small bounty MI eyportation would,l think, accomplish,
and also to glee the farmer the some protection for his pro
party engaged in agriculture, which is enjoyed by the minim
!Milner mid tradesman, us I do conceive it to be both just and
equitable that the cotninuttity at large should maintain the
pour; and that it should not tall almost exclusiy My on the
termer. The duty on malt Is a great erievance to the farmer,
it eel: much reduces the price of barley, by lessening the
con iiiiii ption ; and oldie:CA biul to pay CU exorbitant price for
his malt, which hr is obliged to use.
STRICKLAND FRI..e AK The distress of the farmer cannot,
in my opiniost, be effectually alleviated until he receives a
renintit•rating plies too the proditce of his land, without which
no reduction of tayes, ur es en of rent, would, tinder existing
irctuustances, for his ad•

e.'opj has been thrashed than usual, to raise money fur pressing
demands: beewe I shaull list be surprised if something ap-
proaching toscareity should appear before next harvest; this may
raise the price of corn, but it will come too lade; for though
they have sold the greatest part of their crop who are farming
for a livehhoml, there may be some danger of prices ri•itte
ton witch, which will put the Corn Bill in force, and cause im-
portation from ttioe countries tltat can grow corn without our
peller3 j I am of opinion, that the rate at which wheat can
be brought in is ton low, and that it ought not to be imported
till wheat is 12s. 64. a bushel ; and, if it were possilrle 10 ker p
it ilnetnating in our markets from 101. to Its. rid. Compare
Giese prices with the present, and see what the deficiency is
in the gross produce of a farm ; it is not taking off those taxes
that bear on occupiers of land that will give the farmers
sufficient relief; he must raise money annually, or he cannot
meet his rent, °openers of his farm, and necessary expenditure
of his family. Every article he purchases has unavoidably a
high money price front taxation, and the lessened value of
money, thretigh a great increase of landed propel ty, without
an increase of prices of agricultural produce, I see no prospect
that the cultivation of arable farms, except upon rich soils,
can be curried on.

THOMAS PAGE.—As to a plan for alleviating these difficul-
ties, it is very difficult to say. In the fluid place, I consider
the taking off the assessed taxes on am iciiitiiral horses so
trifling a thing, that it is unite ridiculous to tall; of it, by way
of affording any considerable assistance to the fanner. The
most essential service would be to throw the support of the
poor on all classes of society in the shape of the property tax ;
for I am satisfied, that if things go on as they now do, in the
course of a short time there are many thousand acres of poor
laud which will be thrown out of cultivation, and then you will
look in vain in meaty parishes for produce to distrain upon to
maintain the pu,r, a situation which every person residing in
the cuittitry must look forward to with horror. The exporta-
tion of corn also ought to he encouraged by a bounty (when-
ever the average does nut amount to 80s.) and the importation
also of foreign wool ought to be 14 tiled with a heavy duty, as
an encouragement to our home growth, so as altogether to raise
the value of the produce of the earth ; and I ant sure the sensi-
ble labourers of Eaglaud (of which there are many more than
people are aware of,) would willingly submit to pay an in-
creased price fur their articles of subsistence, in preference
to the m.serable state they have been in the whole of this win-
ter, and which every country gentleman is England must be
fully aware of. Lastly, I would suggest that every county in
England should send delegates to London to confer with the
Hoard of A :ricultnre or any Committee that may be appointed
in the House of Commons to throw every light upon the sub
ject, towards averting the calamities that seem to threaten
every brunch of sooiety except the manufacturers.
Mr. BIRBECE.—There appears to be but one remedy for
these evils; and this to be effectual, most be applied imme-
diately; it is to accommodate our payments to our receipts, by
withdrawing warrants and wartaxes. The taxes of 1811 and
1815 are drawn, not from produce but from capital; rents as
far as they are founded on war prices, are also deducted
from the farmer's capital. It is evident that a continuance
of such payments must eventfully ruin the receiver..
THnMAs CALVEXLCY•—One great remedy would, in my
opinion, be some modification in the poor's rates. which bear
particularly heavy on agriculture; and it seems that many
taboo ers would rather be kept in idleness in the poor house
than work for their maintenance.
_

Mr. Tanstas ABRAHAM.—Any relief that can be given, by
reduction of taxes, will be ineffectual; the produce most be
advanced, or at least 40 per cent. mast be taken tient the pre-
sent rents, taxes, and tithes, are.. 44: e.—l know many estates
where an abatement of 60 per cent. would not do; but I also
know farms where little or no abatement will be reqoired.
A farmer near this place entered on a faim of maul. a ye ir at
Lady day 1813, with a capital of 30.1.11.; he has lately va-
Med his stock ; it is not worth 20001.; at Lady-day 1916
there will be a year's rent due, ■f:er paying whisk, he will
only have 10001. left, and in one year more, if things continue
la their present state, he will be reduced to beggary; hr is an
tadustrious nau, about 30 years of age, with a wife and five
:children;—can any thing be more distressing? There are
tunny such cases. The di-tress is greatest on arable and gra:-
ihm farms at present—dairies and ewe flocks have paid best,
or perhaps I should say, lost leapt for the last two years ; but
nvery man is now applying his land to these purposes, and
another year will put all the farm. coo the same terms; in fact.
!there the inotfien rents are paid, distress is general, anti a very
',short time will NlieW it. lam now going to make an assertion
which I ran prove, and which the country will shortly find to
be the case, viz.—in various districts of the.country, all the
stock of corn and cattle on the land is not worth three-fourths
of the money that will be due for relit, tithes, and taxes, next
Lady-day, front the occupiers of the land—a melancholy
truth, but it is certainly so. If Government can by any means
restore credit, and get into circulation 31. where there is only
one, the thing is accomplished; if this cannot he done ( which
no man will for a moment suppose) a deduction at least.from
the modern rents, tithes, and taxes, of 40 per cent. must be
made; nothing short of this will do, and that the land-owners
will find. Let them who still insist on high rents do justice
before it is too late, as for any relief from the reduction of
taxes (in our present situation) it cannot be expected. The
farmer's account
landowners must make their bargain with Government;
to this it is fast approaching, and to this it must come; and
the longer it is delayed the more severely will it be felt, and
the greater will be tile ruinous eonsequeiices. I humbly beg
to suggest, that a 11111 should be brought into Parliament to
enable the Commissioners of all the turnpike roads in the
kingdom, to raise the bills elpial to keeping the roads in repair.
1% by al Id nut the gentietnan,the merchant, the monied UM,
the coach-master, the waggon•keeper. repair the injury they
commit? 'lbis woad he a great reliof to the yeomanry.
Mn. A aCii sa--looks principally fur a remedy in an improved
state of paper eurreues, and in an equalization of the poor
rates throughout the kingdom.
EDWARD MOOR.—It may seem a paradox, but it is certain
that a rise in the price of critic, will injure the farmer. The
capitalist will be betielittPil, but the mere farmer (I repeat it)
will be injured, as far us this year is concerned. His corn is
sold I, pay his rent; and to meet other espenres he has been
foreed 11l seuil double the quantity of corn to mark. t tba: he
sends in ordinary years —triple that of his best year,. There
is not, I think, a wheat stack in this parish. except my own:
nor, perhaps, one of barley or any grain. flow is a rise in
price to benefit my neighbours? They have nothing to sell,
but they have many thingstiso buy, the price of which will be
enhanced by a rise In the price at corn—labour particularl.

267

prospect for the next harvest should at any period be unfavour
able, I apprehend a great ride. The more that can be now
kept back, the better for the holder end for the public. Such
aSudden declension in time value of the produce of land, and, of
course, of land itself, though not in an equal degree, could out
have been within the forecast of the most sagacions. A radius
mice would be injurious to the interest of agriculture. These
things turn the sober agriculturist into a speculator; and if
they be ft elnent, taking a farm will be like buying a lottery
ticket. No ton things should be more opposed to each other,
than a farmer and a gambler. We must therefore wait pati-
ently for the gradual amelioration of the condition of the for-
mer and of the poor, by a relief in the pressure of taxation, and
time return of regular quiet times. Among the remedies for
alleviating the present distress might, I think, be enamel ated,
encouragement to migration. We arc overpeopled. When
the operations of war and the smallpox shall have ceased fora
few this will be heavily felt.
JOHN HAYWAI4D.—The only remedy I know of is, to bare
corn and cattle sell for a higher price, immediately after an-
other harvest; I say another harvest, because those that are
most distressed have nothing now to sell, therefore to raise the.
price of corn woe, would only serve a few wealthy individuals,
and increase time distress of ti:.•ge who stand in nmo.t need of
relief. I believe the distress tai this part of time conntry is firer
beyond all precedent; and most, in a very short time, be to-
tally ruined, unless an altemation for the agricultural i.ntertat
speedily takes place. It some immediate relief cannot be given,
the pour cannot be maintained, either front tbeir..egrnings or
the rates; the former has taken ;dace already, femur the
m ti latter soon will, fro the nimmber of distresses d. ly taking
place ; and when the poor man is deprived of employ. and tbe.
farmer incapable of paying the rate, great most be the con-
sequences ; and nothing can relieve us but a ,eduction of the
enormous taxation now imposed.

STAFFORDSHIRE PUBLIC MEETING. TO CONSIDER
THE DISTRESS OF THE COUNTY.

This meeting was held at Steffind on Monday week, J. Smith, llsq '
Sheriff, in the Chair, when a most numerous assemblage of the No-
bility and Freeholders took place.
J. Smith, Esq. briefly stated the purpose of the meeting, which he
had thought it his dui; to convene, pursuant to the desire of the Re-
quisition signed by so
_respectable a portion of the Nobility and others
of the county. He bad only personally to hope that no partiality
might be adopted to any particular parts of the county.
Sir J. Wrouesley. Dart said, a great portion of their industrious
population had long beam accustomed to labour of the severest kind.
as attached to the rest rpmandereek of our nweefeetories—the pro-
duction of iron; these lamions dews, ever congested with their loti
and used for such a Inv perriaturinars to the added habits of an
industrious life, were mew a (righted spew if vagrancy
not only over all parts of connty, but as osummy islarge. In their latter days they had a spirit of MIA
allies
.---..., sense of honour which disdained the appearance of nor use
their present wretched resources to be 11011111thal hew OM,
sideratton than that of sad newest*. before which the ' must
bow. If they wanted evidence beyond the notoriety of this a.
•
they might find it in the actiee measures of different d4.116rti1., ..s
viduals, who had spared neither their time, their picrittlr, nor hpt, ' •
fluenee, to lessen and assuage miserly which it were impossible Ms
describe. The estimated number of persons out of employ. and whit& .
he had no doubt was underrated. would, he said, excite the meet r
painful feelings; they stood et e 5,000! The prices of the necester.tal • • • •
of life were ruing, and every houraaravated the mineral distress; be war
aware that employment was the grand remedy of the evil. sr.: it would
rest with the Committee to give due operation to -tuft views. The
spositer then proposed a string of Te4o!!ltieilS.
IL J. Lytticton, Esq. M.P. soionded the ris.e. °lotions in a speech of
1 ileudderable force and warmth of feeling. He trusted that the county
of Staind, which had stood so ;imminent in the extent, the exi!ides.
anti tbessefulness of her manufactures, torah' yet bear her a:.• 71%.11.
through her present difficulties, and ultimately resume her Moe.. ~i• i...
tranquil, and independent habits, amid the opulence which she en..:..:.
( Cheers and applause.—.l votes frees the loner part of the Cour: . • ' 0
'• Drop rae /and and abolish MI sint'enrril" )
The Rev. Dr. Booker, in a flowery and heretical speech, followed ::•_
preceding speakers over the principal field of argument.
The Rev. N !Nide begged to state, that he was commissioned by
Lord Dudley and Ward to state, that he did not consider his ginner
sulreription aS exempting him from a general county one, and that
he should hold hinuilf bound to join the meeting by a further contri-
bution. This was received with lOW cheers; and a vote of thanii to
the Noble Lord, moved by Mr. Monekton, was carried by acclamation.
Earl (lower tweed the thanks of the Meeting to the Sheriff, for his
able conduct in eleedilhoir.
( During. ammo peels of the discusaion—a great part of the assem-
bly cotss.r.tho pi* of.Stafrord—a stormy John Bull tempers-
=lnt af rns. Mil ilitined itself in exclamations of an opposition
shaniessal
• len I Landniffint, elks King John, now addressed himself to the
Melillo. He said be bed waited some time in great expectation of
bearing sem of the gamesmen tell them something about the causes of
this distress. But these had been masked from the beginning to the
end. It could not be from any difficulty of discovering what were the
real causes, because any yawl-boy moll pobst them out. He would
name ondesuse of the MOM eft. 4 Tel* was. that every farthing
that the farmer mutd mat fats the pocket of the landlord.—
(Load ttonstlts off jinn Yee Osiers and tuner part of the
Court.)—They address • pilaw so the House cf Commons, to
all the wow bud in the Idetr,than t and another to the Prince
foe thoeselosure of the Crown Lends t they should abolish all
sinecures, where people do nothing for the money but sign the riciikt
and put it in their pocket. If they would relieve our distress, this is
the place where the shoe pinches. for, as an old colder. he knew a here
the shoe pinched—Long and ri. t us applause, estiowpwied by erns of
.4 Open the ports! NO Corti iiiV —lre don't rant sulsseriptkins l
law& the rents,. ' 'c. ,tea.
The noise and tunsidt became so great that the venerable Pre( le,
who had subscribed his name to a liberal sum for the poor, e -.. :is
leave. The siimatiires of the principal persons present were by de-
pees affixed, mid the 51(1 ting gradneW broke up.
An intelligent person, who left Devonshire some oil
or seven years ago, to reside in Russia, has just returned
to Exeter, and gives some interesting particulars of the
present state of that country, and the dispositions of the
people :—Previous to the invasion, French tutors and do-
mestics were in great request, and few respectable fami-
lies were without one or mm.' of them. The invasion
put every thing French com:,letedy out of fashion, and
begot a decided partiality for the English, whom they
now consider as more worthy of esteem and confidence.
Whatever may be their legal prohiNtions of English
manufacture, our cottons are very generally worn by the
upper and middling chimes. The person elk7dell to left
Moscow in May last : and describes the w'-e..her as then
.....

ms wail, WIIICII rir 11 ooligeo lip use. .
Slim:must) 1:11} EVlAti.—'llie diatre” of the farmer cannot, is not, I think, a wheat stack in this loutish. except my own; Whatever may be their let al prohibitions of English
111 my opinioit, he ctleclitally alleviated until he receives a MO, perhaps, one of barley or any grain. flow is a rim in
remunerating pt/t•e In the produce of his land, w ithent which price to benefit my neighbours? They have nothing to sell, manufacture, our cottons arc very generally Worn by the
upper ;ma iniddlina clu.sees. The person elided to left
tio reduction of lases, or est.'s of relit, would, under existing bin they have many thingaiso buy, the price a which. ill be .
ay last ; and describes thew -v.. liter VI then
circumstances, be of mucli avail tOr his advantage, enhanced by a rise In the price of corn—labour particulail,. Moscow in M
Mr. J. Pas istsnlow.--it appt ars to u e that the only re• Hy opinion is, that corn will rise considerably in price; perad- very warm there. The city is about half r"..-. built ; tot
merly is a rise in the prices of the produce of the earth; how venture too much. England is not, in my [nimble judgment, as the builders have bk...n left at liberty to ra.asult their
this is to be brought about is difficult for me to say ; the war- overstocked with cont. *bough Lon lon, for the reasons put own taste and convenience, it exhibits very little improve-
kris for corn have been long glutted, first, by the great ha- mentioned, is. Double the usual quantity has been sent thither,
l i:
atrtatinns gnOnus to the lust harvest, and added to this since to meet an Impoverished market. A great deal of corn is, I meat ; the streets are as narrow as before; and tax:ly
I conceive a greater quantity of grain (lu proportion to the should apprehend, in the hands of London speculators. If our fine houses are joined by mere hovels. •