The Sun.
London, England, 1822-01-23 00:00:00

THE ANNUAL REGISTER.

A. new volume under this title has just been
issued by the RIVINGTONS, one of the oldest and
most respectable Literary Firms in this country,
and whose publications have been invariably
characterized by a strenuous attachment to those
principles inThurch and State, which have placed
this country on its present unparalleled height
of political and commercial importance. This
work is introduced by a candid and well-written
Preface, which states some new arrangements
that appear to us, as far as we have had an oppor-
tunity of judging of the whole, as constituting a
general and striking improvement. We shall re-
sort to it on future occasions for matters that we
are sure will afford amusement as well as instruc-
tion to our Readers; but we shall now confine
ourselves to the commencement of its opening
chapter, which presents a character of our late
KING that at once gives a true portrait of that
excellent Sovereign, in his public and private
capacity, and holds forth such an example of IVlo-
NA►tCIIIC4L WISDOM, -VIRTUE, and FIRMNESS as
ought to be followed by every Potentate o❑ earth,
for then every Government would be secure,
and every people happy.
" The opening of the year 18420 was di,tin-
guished by the terminatio►► of the longest and
most memorable reign in our annals. GEORGE
the Third died full of years and glory ; and,
though a lengthened period of suffering and per-
sonal humiliation' had latterly abstracted him

hardly the same materials or, ,opportunities for
forming an accurate judgment ; and, to say the
truth, this consideration is of very secondary im-
portance. We do not know whether the occur-
rence of extraordinary talents and energy in the
Sovereign would.not in our state be rather incon-
venient than useful. The powers of the late
King's mind were not perhaps of what is con-
sidered the highest order, but he was confessedly
endowed with a sound, vigorous, practical under-
standing, which commonly led him right in his
judgment of men and things;- and often, perhaps,
as far as ordinary, affairs were concerned, to con-
elusions ,more accurate and safe than might have
been, arrived at by intellects of a finer temper.
In his application to business he was regular and
steady : and the reports of all those at all quali-
fied to judge, agree in affirming that he always
betrayed an intelligence perfectly competent
to the proper comprehension of the subjects
which were submitted to- his consideration.
His education had been rather neglected ; and
his reading was supposed to be neither exten-
sive nor systematic ; but he was far from de-
ficient in information. Ile had cultivated a
habit of continual inquiry in his intercourse
with others ; an, intercourse, we may observe,
which from his general frangness of disposition,
included a much greater variety of classes than
might have been expected ; and in the course of
this, his mind, aided by his natural acuteness of
observation, and an uncommon retention of me-
mory, had acquired a mass of various and useful
knowledge, such as perhaps has been possessed
by few persons in his station, and which, from its
practical nature, and connection with men as
they actually exist, was, perhaps, of all others,
the kind of information that he was most likely
to turn to good account in the exercise of the
duties of his station:

" In the ordinary habits of his life he was
eminently simple and uniform; he had not a
taste but was characteristically manly and ap-
propriate to the character of an English gentle-
man. It has been truly observed, that even his
amusements were patriotic, and the interest
which he shewed himself to take in agricultural
process and experiment, was not less honourable
to his taste than it was useful by its example ;
which, it is probable, co-operated materially in
maintaining that love of a country life which still
happily continues to distinguish our landed pro-
prietors."

A Meeting of Owners and Occu ..Is of Land
in the County of Devon was held at the Hotel, in Exeter,'On
Thursdal last. Upwards of 500 Gentlemen of gre,at respec-
tability and landed property were present. ROBERT Hushr,
• Esq. (the late High Sheriff), was called to the Chair, and opened
the Meeting in a few words
Colonel DRAKE (of Ipplepen) stated what he considered
the cause of the distress :—The transition from so long a war
to peace, • and consequently the advantages now possessed by
other nations, we having before enjoyed a monopoly ; the
quantity, of foreign grain in 1818-19; the return to Cash Pay-
ments before the nation was in a fit state to receive it ; the heavy
load of taxes which the war brought upon us; the reduction of
wages as the consequence of the great reduction of labour ; and
the increase of the poors' rates: Col. Drake then said that he
should, with due respect, .submit what he considered as pro- -
bable remedies :—A fair and proper tax on foreign labour,
coming into this country in the shape of foreign grain ; for
why should not foreigners pay towards our taxes, if they
have the benefit of our money for it? He proposed the follow-
ing Resolutions :-
Ist. That it is the opinion of this Meeting the distress of
the Agriculturists of this country has, during the three last
years, been very severe, and is still alarmingly increasing.
" 2d. That this distress has. been chiefly occasioned by the
importation of nearly thirty millions of bushels . of foreign
corn, duty free,. in 1818 and 1819 ; by the enormous amount
of taxation and' parochial rates, as compared with the prices of
all agricultural productions; by the undue presture of that
taxation on the landed interest ; and by the too speedy return -
to a metallic currency. - ' . • • .
- " 3d. That to stay the progress of that distress which the
Agriculturists are suffering, and which is rapidly .spreading
among other classes of society, it is the opinion, of this Meeting
that all descriptions of capital, however invested, should fairly
Participate in the general onus of taxation ; that the most rigid
economy should be observed in the public expenditure; and that
all the productions of the soil of the United Kingdom should be
protected by efficient duties from the import of similar commo-
dities duty-free."
The Rev. HENRI' BARKER seconded the Resolutions.
Dr. TUCKER (of Ashburton) began by saying that the
Gentleman who opened the proceedings had stated six causes of
the existing distress s—The first was a transition from war -to
peace, and that other nations, almost exclusively, enjoyed the
benefits which peace should produce ; the second was the im-
portation of foreign grain ; the third a'return to cash payments ;
the next,-our heavy taxation-,and here, when he had got hold
of the monster, he treated him very mildly, gently, and deli-
cately ; though the monster 'was like the " Old Man of the
Mountain" on die shoulders of Sinbad the Sailor, who, if they
did not shake him off, would drown them ; the next, was the
reduction of wages, and the increase of poor rates. He then
proposed his remedies, the first of which was, a further tax on
foreign grain ; but he had not gone far enough—he had not ,
stated what a fair and proper tax was. The Gentleman who
seconded had told them, that no great benefit could be derived
from a reduction in taxation ; a greater mistake could not have
been made, and had he compared the difference between the 'ex-
pence of governing this country in 1792 and 1820, he would not
have ventured to make such an assertion ; in the former year
the total charge was 7,714,5901. and in the present, 19,159,8071.
But so long as they were willing to pay, the Government would
be willing to receive, instead of bringing, down the public ex,
'lances to their pockets and purses. It would not he amiss to
examine a little whether our taxation could not be lowered. In
1820, the Army Expences were nine millions, and the Navy
seven millions ; but touch neither the army nor navy, and a
reduction may still be effected.—Mr. Webb Hall, the Secre-
tary of the Agricultural Association, who had never learnt
even the horn-book of political science, and whom the veriest
child may confute, had told them that if they could get an ad-
ditional importation duty, all would be pleasant and easy ; but
this was a scheme as wild as that of the wise men of Goshen,
endeavouring to hedge in the cuckoo without laying down the
roof. , Their only remedy was in reducing the expenditure of
the country to the prices of the agricultural produce; for if they '
continue twelve months longer without such reduction, they
• would be in a worse state than what they are nosy. In conclu-
sion, Dr. Tucker proposed that instead of the present meeting.
entering into Resolutions, they should present a requisition to
' the Sheriff for ceiling a County Meeting to consider this great
question and apply to Parliament for the remedy. Ile would
go a little further, because Lord Castlereagh had said that the
County of Devon gave him more trouble than all the rest; he
would recommend separate Petitions from every town and village
in the County; these, supported by our County Members,
Must have weight. Dr. Tucker then stated his motion in form
for convening a ('ountyMeeting.
CA LMADY P. HAM LYN,' Esq. seconded the motion.—
lie conceived that protecting duties were of little service, for
it was in vain ' to bring their goods to market if there were no
buyers.
The Rev. T. CLACK thought the best course would be for
the Chairman to prepare a Requisition.
Colonel CUTSIAFFE said the Meeting could confine itself
to a Petition to Parliament for relief.
W. SANFORD, 'Esq. said, that it was desirable that so
great a County as Devon, the second in extent in the kingdom,
should come forward'and express its opinion in a body. One
class of men ought not to be sacrificed to the interests of another;
and if Agriculturists were expected to lower their rents twenty
and twenty-five per cent. funded and .mortgaged properties
should be reduced in the same proportion.
The Honourable N. FELLOWES wished 'to know from
whom the Resolutions were supposed to come • were they from
certain individuals in the neighbourhood of 'Exeter, or were
, they to he supposed to represent the County of Devon ? With
' a few alterations, they would have his concurrence ; but he
thought the weight and influence of the Resolutions would be
increased by emanating from a County Meeting convened by
authority.
Sir THOMAS ACLA ND said, that he came there with a
' disposition to hear and be informed on a subject in which he
felt himself deeply interested. By a cousiderable portion of
those present, a County Meeting was desired. Deriving what
little consequence he possessed from the freeholders of the
county, it would be strange indeed if he attempted to lessen the
, importance of a County Meeting; and he was persuaded neither
the Sheriff nor any other Magistrate would_interpose to prevent
' them from assembling.
; The Hon. N. FEITIOWES in the absence of Dr. Tucker,
. thee. proposed " That a Requisition be signed by the persons
' now present, and be sent to the'Sheriff, requesting him to con-
L vene a County Meeting." The motion was carried by a large
. .
MPJOTIty,
Thanks were then voted to the Chairman, for his impartial
'. conduct.
I The Requisition was immediately prepared and signed by
1 einteire
s)olistetniotn,
s; includingand,w
I mofatnheGoreinganeumil ethheavie'rsomPoceeerheafrdd ,Shecnisetr,
been signed by Lords Rolle and Graves, with many other
highly respectable and distinguished persons.