The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1820-05-04 00:00:00

BRITtSII

LONDON,
THURSDAY. M•Y 4, 1820.

Two very important Petitions were presented
yesterday evening in the House of Commons by
Lord MILTON and Mr. STU•RT WORTLEY, f►om
the Woollen Manufacturers, praying for the re-
moval of the lICM duty on the importation of fo.
reign wool. Lord MILTON apprised the House,
that in consequence of this very unwise tax, a Bri-
tish manufacturer loot the advantage of an exten-
sive contract lately offered by the Ituiman Govern-
ment for the clothing of a part of the Russian army.
This is a most important fact, and it well becomes
Parlisment and the country to consider whether
greater advantages must not have accrued, not only
to the country in general hat even fo the Govern-
ment, in a point of view strictly financial, haul such
an extensive contract enlarged the sphere of do-
mestic industry, than could be derived to the agri.
cultural interests front the imaginary Frotection of.
fered to the wool growers by this impolitic duty, or
to the Treasury from the trifling produce of the
tax. But, in fact, the coarse foreign wool cos
enter into a competition with the native
wima, so that the tax, while it almost prohibits

. .

the entry of the cheap foreign wool, causes to
increase of demand for the native produce, and
one part of our manufactures is absolutely
destroyed, without iu the bliglii er t degree pr,
'noting the other. Lord MILTON states that
the English wool is at this moment a drug in the
market. The injury done to the woollen mare.
facturers cannot iii a complicated society be G It LI
them alone; if their means of subsistence or of er
joyment he curtailed, the agricultutiits must f,
the consequence:, which must also be emended i:
the same proportion to the great branches 44 the
public irvenue. The twit- will at length arrstrei at..'
we hope it it nut now far 41.15t:10,v/hen it will be at:
kaualedged that the wt.-revs id' all elapses iu the
State are the same, and that if whit is vulgarly
and 86.411111 y called protectivti be extended tootle,
even this favoured rioas will feel the it.jury whir It
such a preference is ellculated to throw .poo all tl.e
other.

The object of this wool tax, however, was avow.
edly financial, and it sus yratetdsy et/ruing timidly
stated by the CHANCELLOR of the amnions;
that lie thorglii the tax bad been productive. But
did the Right Hon. Gentleman calculate upon the
losses which the revenue must hate ►ustained
other departments, by interrupting one great braise,
of the woollen manufacture ? Can be estimate Los
much was lost even by the incapability of the maim-
lecturer, mentioned by Lord MILTON, to wider-
take the Russian contract' Should his calvulauicti
satisfy himself, are there 110 considerations to guide
the Government of a great empire but those that
relate to revenue ? Is it expedient, wider the pre-
sent aspect of political affairs, to Homily( any part
of our intetnal trade, or to thug en.loarrussonesus
upon the irritable body of the northrsts manufac-
turers ? Our domestic ogitationa have undoubtedly
arisen from the pressure of iiidisidual distress, and
a wise Government would at such a moment seek
rather to open new channels of industry, than im-
pede the free course of those which had hitherto
contributed to individual and general prosperity.
We hope sincerely that Parliament oil consider this
subject with diligence sod impartiality, and riot
without some feelings of sympat ley far the ►utleriug
poor. We are quite convinced that if ►ome of the
restrictions now placed upon the trade of tire cow-
try were removed, it would not oily relieve the
manufacturers from much of their present distres..
but that the happiest arch; would at the same
time be experienced by the equally distressed body
of the agriculturists.

The ease of Edwards the spy, as noticed in the
House of Commons on Tuesday evet,ing, has ex.
citeJ a lively, and at the same time a peiiiful in-
terest in the public mind. Much praise is due to
the vigilance and activity of Mr. Alderman Woos
in endeavouring to sift sn foul and nefarious a trans-
action to the bottom. The employinent of spin.
however defensible and even proper it might be
under peculiar circumstances, must, from the
abaudoned characters of the men who would stoop
to so iufamous an office, be always fraught with
danger; nothing. therefore, but 'obsolete necessity
could justify a government in having recourse to
such agents; the utmost caution should be exer-
cised to temper their zeal, mid the severest punish.
ment inflicted if they should dare to transgress the
strict hoe of their duty, and instigate the mischief
which they were employed only to watch.
Mr. Alderman WOOD alluded again to this subject
yesterday evening in the House of Collusions, and
gave notice that be should move fur !rare to refer
the depositions made against George Edwards to
a Secret Committee of the House, with a view to
obtaining a further examination of this important
matter. The worthy Alderman intimated, that hav-
ing understood that it was the design of Edwards
to leave the kingdom us quickly as 'rumble, he
apprised Lord SIDNOUTIII of his intetnion to bring
the subject before Parliament, moil requested the
Noble Secretary to prevent Edward, from leaviug
the country until the pleasure of the (louse of
Commons was expressed upon his motion.
Some obloquy '.4s very unfairly hero sought to
be thrown by certain writers in the Treasury Jour-
mils upon Mr. Alderman Wool), fOr his having
addressed the three shunt questions to Thistle-
wood on Monday intormaig. respecting Ilia ac-
quaintance with Edwards. and die preselas iu mo-
ney which he received from hint. If the worthy
Alderman intruded into a place where he had no
right to enter, or had committed an act unprece-
dented or unusual, or had with unseemly vehemence
and importunity drawn back to the angry publics
of this life the thoughts of one whose initA was lit
so awful a moment empleyrd upon the loocws or
fears inspired by the near approach of araother ex-
istence. there might be some pretence for this cen-
sure. and p0.411.,1y not even the importance of the
subject would justify such an intrusion—but how
stand the facts T The worthy Alderman is a Magi-
strate of the City, and was entitled. if indeed he was
not bound by his duty, to be present at the execu-
tion of the culprits. Nothing is more commas than
that Magistrates and Clergymen rhould at the *whet
moment preceding the execution
.of criminals,
question them with regard to any circurnsteaces
upon which doubt weight still resent, sod such
questions are nut unfrepteatly pressed with inde-
cent pertinecity and. vehemence. Seek riser
Lions were put to Beilingillin while eo the verge
of eternity; and with regard to the state of