The Sun.
London, England, 1831-03-18 00:00:00

COURT CIRCULAR.

The Duke of CUMBERLAND, accompanied by Prince
GEORGE, dined with the Archbishop of YORK, on Wedne,
day, at his residence in Grosvenor-square, and afterwards
accompanied his Grace to the Concert of Ancient Music,
at the Hanover-square-rooms.

The Loan CIiAMBERLAIN gave a grand dinner on Wed-
nesday, at Devonshire House, to the Landgravine of HESSE
Homattc, and a select party of the nobility and gentry.
The Prince of ORANGE visited the Princess AUGUSTA on
Wednesday.
At the Levee held by his MAJEsrr on Wednesday, the
Right Hen. CHARLES GRANT, the President of the Board
of Controul, delivered a letter of condolence and congratula-
tion to the KING, on his succession to the British Throne,
from the Shah of PERSIA.

A meeting. of Members of the House of Commons, con-
sidered to be friendly to the measure of Reform now before
Parliament, took place yesterday at the residence of the
CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER. in Downing-street.
The meeting was attended by 147 Members, among whom
were the Marquis of TAvisTocK, Viscount AIORPETII,
Viscount EBRINGTON, Lord JOHN RUSSELL, Lord G. HILL,
Lord A. lltr.e, the Right Hon. ROBERT GRANT, Sir
JOHN SEBRIGIIT, Sir M. W. Iltnr.F.Y, Sir F. BURDETT,
Sir R. WILSON, Sir J. MACINTOSH, Sir J. NEWPORT,
Sir J. GRAHAM, Alderman WOOO, Mr. RIDLEY Col.•
BORNE, Mr. ELLIcE, &co. &c. The Members continued
assembled about an hour.

The Ambassadors and Ministers of the great Powers held
a conference for some hours yesterday afternoon with Vis-
count PALmERsroN, at the Foreign Office. There wi re
present the Russian, Austrian, and French Ambassadors,
and the Prussian Minister.

The Spanish Minister transacted business yesterday at
the office of the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs.
Lord HOLLAND has been severely indisposed during the
last ten days at his residence in Eurlington•street. Sir
HENRY HALFORD, Dr. THOMSON, and Mr. BRODIE, have
been c Ailed in to render their professional assistance. Mr.
ALLEN is in constant attendance on his Lordship.
Viscount Ari-war visited Earl GREY yesterday at the
Treasury, after the breaking up of the meeting of Members
of the House of Commons.

Suannonses were issued late in the afternoon for a
Cabinet Council, which was to assemble at ten o'clock last
night.

THE LONDON COLLEGE OF MEDICINE.

A very numerous and respectable public meeting of me.
dical gentlemen was held on Wednesday evening at the
Crown and Anchor Tavern, Josxrx HOME, Esq. M.P.
in the chair. The objects of the meeting were stated by
the Hon. Chairman and various speakers. The late
rage committed by the President and Council of the Royal
College of Surgeons against their own Members,
by expelling them with Bow-street officers ri et armis
from their own theatre, was adverted to with warmth
and universal indignation. The monopoly and various
abuses arising therefrom of that College was also
condemned in very unmeasured terms. The almost
insurmountable manner in which gentlemen were
shut out from obtaining the degree of Doctor from the
Laudon College of Physicians, owing to the restrictive
nature of the by-laws of that College, and the paltryness
of the privileges conferred on their licentiates by their
license ; the trading and money-making monopoly
of the Apothecaries' Company by their Examiners,
and the numerous evils resulting from the workings
of the Act—together with the many discrepancies existing
at present in the medical profession—were brought for-
cibly under the notice of the meeting. It was ably con-
tended that the existing artificial divisions and discre-
pancies led to disunion, jealousies, discos ds, and every
thing but what ought to be found in so liberal a profession.
In such a state of things the respectability of the pro-
fession must be compromised, the zealous cultivation of the
science could not be promoted, and consequently the health
of the community must be neglected, and the public
thereby deeply injured. It was absolutely necessary that
mankind should be protected against these gross and grow-
ing evils. The simple query was, what was the best course
to be adopted ? and the meeting finally and unanimously
resolved that they should have two strings to their bow, that
they should present a petition to Parliament, praying
among other things, the Legislature to abolish the self-
electing system of the Council of the College of Surgeons,
and give the e!ective franchise to the Members at large,
and that at the same time they should proceed, forthwith,
in every effort in the formation of a new college, (as Mr.
Wakley emphatically said) a temple of fame to man-
kind—a monument to the shrine of charity—a building
to rest on the adamantine pillars of truth, and to be
called " The London College of Medicine." In the sup-
port of this College all medical men and the public should
be earnestly requested to come forward. Into it all le-
gally authorized practitioners, whether physicians, sur-
geons, or apothecaries should be received ; all should be
considered Fellows, and all have the title of Doctor
Its officers should be elected by the body at general meet-
ings--its students examined publicly—open to the press
and every person, with the subject before them, and with-
out regard to the quarter from, or the way in which their
knowledge might have been obtained—the diplomas
granted at as little cost as could be consistent with the
dignity and
support of the College—and that a fund
should be raised for the support of the poor widows and
orphans of the Fellows. There could be no doubt that
Parliament would unhesitatingly grant its protection to
such a College. The Hon. Chairman pledged himself to
do every thing for it in his power, and the meeting dis-
persed highly gratified with the proceedings, and confident
of success.

In' the House of Commons last night, Mr.
HonacE Twiss endeavoured to escape from the obloquy
which his application of the quotation from Ecclesiostieus
subjected him to. We cannot exactly understand his dis-
tinction between the middle classes, and the classes about to
receive the suffrage by the Reform Bill. We could say
something in answer to Mr. Twiss; hut he has already
paid for his indiscretion.—Morning Chronicic.

The anniversary dinner for the Benevolent
Society of St. Patrick was held yesterday at the Free-
masons' Tavern, Lord F. L. GOWER in the chair.

Mr. BARTLEY stated on Wednesday, at the
Committee of the Covent-garden Theatrical Fund, that
on Monday week, when his MAJEsTy was retiring from
the theatre, be said (addressing Mr. C. KEMBLE),
" KESIBLE, when is your dinner ?" Mr. KEMBLE, at the
moment not recollecting the precise day appointed for that
purpose, appealed to him (Mr. BARTLEY), who having
informed his 111AJESTY that the dinner was fixed to take
Place on the 23d, " Very well," observed the Kitio em-
phatically, " communicate to the Committee that I shall
not forget them."

A NEW WAY TO HANDLE TILE REFORM
QUESTION.—As Mons. MALLAN, the celebrated dentist, of
Half-moon-street, Pir2adilly, on his journey home from
Bath last week, was changing horses, a well-known
M.P. Anti-Reformer asked him what he thought of the
Reform question ? Mons. MALLAN very quietly replied,
we must look at home for Reform, and as the gentleman's
teeth is sadly out of order, we recommend him to Reform
the same by calling at his establi,hment.

ITALY.--Italy contains a population of
21,000,000 inhabitants spread upon a surface of 90,652
square miles, which is rather more than 231 inhabitants to
one square mile. Her stated revenue is about 323,370,000
francs; her active army, 116,911 men.
CURIOUS DOCUMENT FOUND AT THE
TuttinttEs.........lNTEavtEw WITH TIIE GRAND DDNE
CONSTANTINE.-The Court Journal of Saturday, March
19th, will contain in addition to its usual variety of fashion-
able intelligence, &c. two highly curious and interesting
papers. one consisting of curious documents found in the
writing desk of the Duchess D'ANGOULEME, during the
recent' attack of the Tuileries, in the actual hand-writing
of the Duchess herself, the Emperor of AUSTRIA, King of
PRUSSIA, Princess AUGUSTA, Princess WitarELarptA. &C.The other a relation of an interview and conversation be-
tween the Grand Duke CowsrawriNit, the Polish Envoy,
and Count WOLICKI, immediately after the recent flight of
the Grand Duke from Warsaw.

The late Mr. R—, when Minister of Inehture,
had a heavy share in one of the Dundee whalers. One
season the vessel was missing, and thought to be lost.
On a Sabbath morning the news reached Inchturo that
the missing whaler had come safely in. As usual the
beadle was in attendance to usher the minister into the
pulpit ; while on his way through the church-yard, he
turned round with a face full of importance, and said,
" Sir, the whale ship's come in." " Hold your Peace,
JOHN," replied the minister, with a frown, " How dare
you speak to me about whale ships on the Lord's day ?"
The poor beadle was quite crest fallen at this rebuke ;
however, when he was opening the door, the minister
said, archly,
" Hark
ye, man ! any fish ?" " I dinna ken an
it be right to speak about fish on the Lord's day, but they
say she is a bumper ship." "Is she faith !" exclaimed
the clergyman, striking his cane on the ground. The
news raised his spirits so far above their ordinary tone,
that his hearers declared they never heard him so lively
either before or after.—Glasgow Evening Post.

BENEFICIAL EMPLOYMENT TO THE

LABOURING CLASSES.

SUGGESTIONS ON THE BEST 3IEANS OF OBTAINING
FUNDS TO ENABLE GOVERNMENT TO GIVE BENEFICIAL
EMPLOYMENT TO THE LABOURING CLASSES,
TIIROWN OUT OF WORK
By the introduction qf Machinery, or by any other cause.

In May, 1826, the Editor of The Sun, and
also the Editor of Felix Farley's Bristol
Journal, published a letter of mine, in which I
recommended that Government should purchase
waste or uncultivated land in the neighbourhood
of Blackburn and Manchester, and employ the
manufacturers who were then out of work and in
distress. in dividing that land into farms of from
a hundred to a hundred and fifty acres in each,
and after the bounds and division fences were
completed, I advised that these farms should be
sold. I presume that by adopting such a plan
the funds obtained to carry on these improve-
ments would progressively increase.
It appears to me that the present distress
amongst the working classes might be relieved
by the adoption of measures of nearly a similar
description to those above alluded to ; the only
difference being that Government should pur-
chase estates instead of waste land, and employ
those who were now or at any future time thrown
out of work by the introduction of agricultural
or manufacturing machinery, in improving those
estates. For a groat many years I advocated the
cultivation of waste lands, though I well knew
that in all the cultivated lands throughout the
kingdom there was scarcely one field that did not
require to be improved, and to complete the im-
provement of enclosed lands, with buildings
erected upon them, would be much more eco
nomical, than to erect buildings, and manure,
fence, and cultivate waste lands. I knew that
to force the proprietors to improve their estates
was quite out of the question, and it did not
occur to me till lately that there was any means
by which Government could obtain possession
of a sufficient extent of enclosed and cultivated
laud, to give work at all times to those who
were thrown out of employment by the intro-
duction of machinery. As, however, I think I
now see my way more clearly, I am of opinion
that men of all descriptions, able and willing to
work, should by no means be encouraged to
emigrate to distant colonies, but be induced to
remain at home, by Government obtaining by
purchase cultivated land, and offering to give
employment and reasonable wages to effect its
improvement.
When arrived at this point of my letter, you
will I think, be inclined to ask me, from whence
the funds are to be obtained to enable Govern-
ment to purchase estates, and to pay the labourers
employed in improving them ? Whsn I have
made a few remarks respecting machinery, I
shall endeavour to show from whence sufficient
funds for the purchase of estates and for the
payment of labourers in the improvement re-
quired upon them, are to be derived.
In the debates in the }louse of Lords I read
the speeches of Earl Stanhope, Earl Grey, and
Lord Wynford. Earl Stanhope said " that one
thing he was determined on, whatever others
might do ; he would think it his duty to lay
aside those new machines which threw out of
employment such numbers of the labouaing
poor. To the ancient machinery he had no ob-
jection, but he really did think some limit
should be put to the use of those modern inven-
tions which displaced so great a quantity of ma-
nual labour." Earl Grey asked Earl Stanhope
" what he meant by the ancient machinery ?
was it a spade ? was it a plough ? or did he
mean to retain the rude implements of agricul-
ture, and reject all improvements ?" Lord Wyn-
ford observed " that he had said nothing against
the use of machinery, but only against its abuse ;
all things, even the most useful, were liable to
abuse ; he had no wish to restrain human in-
tellect, but he considered that the interests of
the labourers should be sacred in their Lord-
ships' eyes."
I agree with Lord Wynford " that human
inventions should not be restrained, and that
fetters should not be put upon the human intel-
lect." My opinion is, that the saving of manual
labour by the use of machinery, increases the
national wealth ; the invention of machinery
should therefore be encouraged ; but when per-
sons are thrown out of employment by machinery
being substituted for manual labour, they should
be protected by Government, and have reason-
able wages offered to them for their labour in
in improving land.* It is evident that if this
were done, men capable of labour could have no
plea for applying for parish relief, and we should
therefore require no poor's rate, except to sup-
, port in comfort the aged and infirm poor.
I shall now proceed to point out the means
by which it appears to me that all the funds re-
quired by Government, for every kind of na-
tional expenditure, might be easily obtained.
Mr. Robinson, ie Parliament, said, that a pro-
perty tax would be necessary. Before this op-
pressive tax is inflicted upon us, let the follow-
ing mode of obtaining money be tried :
Let Government appoint a place (some bank
for instance) in every large town in the king-
. dom, in which there should be placed a strong
iron chest, with a door well secured with locks,
the keys of which should be entrusted to the
keeping of different persons. In this chest let
there be a space just large enough for a person
to introduce his hand, to deposit his per centage
upon income or property, instead of paying it to
the tax collector. When an individual had
made a deposit, he should receive a certificate of
his having so done, and should then, or at some
specified time, produce such certificate to some
duly constituted authority, and make oath that
the sum deposited was the full amount of the
per centage called for by Government.± If this
experiment were not found to succeed, then the
Government might, perhaps, be justified in re-
sorting to an income or a property tax, collected
in the usual manner, however great the evils at-
tendant upon it might be.
I am, however, of opinion, that my mode
would produce a revenue amply sufficient for all
the purposes of the State, and also afford full
means for the employment of the poor, in the
way I have before pointed out.
If a Reform in Parliament and an abolition
of useless places and unmerited pensions, went
hand in hand with the measures I have recom-
! mended, I have no doubt whatever that the
country would surmount all its present difficul-
' ties, and become richer and more powerful than
it ever has been.

They should not be confined to their own paz
but employed in improving land wherever it could be ob-
tained for them.

t If an oath should be objected to, let a declaration to
the effect above-mentioned be signed in the presence of
several respectable witnesses; let two of them witness the
declaration of each individual, who should then have his
certificate given to him. Deposits might be made by
parishes, and the names of the inhabitants alphabetically
arranged, who had received certificates, might be exhi-
bited upon the church-doors, together with the total amount
found to have been deposited in that parish.