The Sun.
London, England, 1822-10-30 00:00:00

COUNTY OF LANARK.

Pursuant *to requisition, a very respectable
Meeting of the Noblemen, Freeholders, Justices
of the Peace, and Commissioners of Supply, was
held on Wednesday, at Hamilton, for the pur-
pose of considering a Commutation relative to
the Agricultural state of the Country, which had
been transmitted to the Lord Lieutenant of the
County ; and also for considering the price of
labour, connected with Agriculture, and articles
of consumption of the farming interest. On the
motion of the Honourable Admiral Fleming,. his
Grace the Duke of HAMILTON was unanimously
called to the Chair. Some letters from absent
gentlemen were laid on the table, upon
,which
some observations were made.

The Duke of Ilaittivr cis said, they were met upon a sub-
ject of great importance, a subject, on which he would be happy
to hear the opinions of- ate Freeholders. The - situation of the
Landholders was critical in 'the extreme, and if some relief
were .not soon obtained, 'their condition would be distressing
indeed. lie would not at present repeat his own opinions.
They were well known to the Meeting. He long held tkat ex-
travagance in the public expenditure was sure in the end to
produce great distress. The interest of the landlord and tenant
were obviously inseparably connected ; and any .landlord; who
would not unite and sympathise with his suffering. tenants,. was
• unworthy of the situation in which Providence:had placed, him.
He was unaware of any other plan that could be adopted at.
present,' but that every possible means of retrenchment and
economy should be practised by the Government, for the relief'
of the landlord. Having made these few observations, he would
sit dnwn, and they would commence the business of the day.
Dr. CLARK, of Easter Moffat, then addressed the Meeting
in a longspeech. lie began by considering the causes of the
Agricultural distress. The first cause was taxation. The next,
a change from war to peace. The third, was over production.
Since the year 1765, or thereby, this country has beeWuni-
fornily an importing country, till of late years. The ex-
perience of half a century induced • moat persons to form an
opinion that this Country was not able to supply itself with
bread corn ; this opinion, together-with-the great consumption
during thOwar, which has now failed—the protection supposed
to be given. by the late Corn Bills—the opening the Ports, with-
out restraint, betwixt Britain and Ireland—all these causes toge.:
ther have occasioned an increased cultivation, and a glut in all the
markets of the kingdom. how far these causes are lasting,or only
temporary, perhaps we have not had sufficient experience to
determine. The cure, however, must probably consist, like that
of the former, in the . effects of an increasing population and
trade, causing an increased consumption,' and extended -circula-
tion of money. The fourth', and laSf cause, was the derange-
ment of the .Currency, a cause, probably. productive of more
evil than all the other causes before-mentioned. The Hon.
Gentleman, 'at great length, pointed out the evils which had
arisen from the depreciation of the Currency, and contended
that Government, by keeping the letter of the law with the
monied interest; broke it in truth with every other class of the
community. *lle concluded, by saying, that he. should not
make any motion upon the subject at present; but as a Com-
mittee would probably be appointed, to co-operate with other
Counties, he should leave the matter to their consideration.
Sir LIEN RY STEWART said, after what hail been. stated by
his Friend, who had just spoken, he did not find it necessary to
say any thing on the subject, farther than propose the follow,
ing Resolutions :.__.
• 1. That the present unprecedented fall in the price of all
Agricultural Produce, has involved the Proprietors and Occu-
piers of Lands in the greatest distress ; and that its continua 4
tion now threatens their total ruin.

2. That the disproportion betwixt the price of Agricultural
Produce, and the expence of raising it, and betwixt the in.:
creased value of the circulating medium, and the burdens
chargeable upon land, render the Agriculturist unable to pay
the rent and taxes ; or mu to cultivate the soil, with any
profit to himself.

3. That in this state of genera/ calvnity, it is desirable that
the aggregate opinion of the whole landed interest in Scotland
should be ascertained, and for that purpose, that a General.
Committee, composed of Sub-committees, from the several
Counties, should be appointed to assemble at Edinburgh, as
early as possible.
4. That a Committee should be al/pointed to draw up, forth-
with, a Report, stating the difficulties and distresses of this
particular County ; and what may occur to them as most neJ
cessary to be done, to remedy the evils; and that the-Commit-
tee should nominate three or more of their number, to meet
and deliberate with the General Committee at Edinburgh.
5. 'That the Suh.Committee, appointed to meet ,with the
General Committee, in Edinburgh, - be requested to coinmuni,
cate to this County the result of their deliberations ; and that
another Meeting be called for this County, to take-the Report
of their Committee and Sub-Committee into consideration ;
and if judged expedient, to apply to Parliament for relief.
The Resolutions being seconded by Dr. Clark, were una-
titmOnsly carried ; and the following Committee accordingly
appointed :
Lord Belhaven, Admiral Fleming, Sir henry Stewart, Bart.,
Sir James Stewart, Bart., Mr. Alossman, Dr. Clark, Mr.
Brown,. Mr. Norman Lockhart, Colonel Gordon, Captain Os-
wald, Mr. William Waddell ; of which Commivee, Sir Henry
Stewart, Bart., was named Convener, and any three declared a
Quorum.
The Duke of ItaltiLTON said, he-had in his hand a com:
munication from Sir J. Sinclair, in Which he went into various
details, by which relief might be obtained. Several counties
had already agreed to send deputies to Edinburgh, to consider
the subject. The Paper was referred to the consideration of a
Committee, as was also a Resolution, which was put into Ad-
iniral Fleivring's hand, which stated that Scotland should be
placed on the same levelas Ireland, as to a Free Trade in Spirits.
The next subject brought forward was the mode of striking
the tiars.

Aiiniral FLEMING said, this was a very important Matter.
The Clergy wanted a higher rate ; and he heard that the Lord
Advocate was going to bring in a Bill into Parliament on the
subject, and he moved, that the subject be referred to the Gene.
ral Committee.

.31r. 11l ossarax seconded the motion, and It was unanimously
carried.

On the motion of Lord BELHAVEN, the thanks of the Meet.:
ing were given to the Duke of Hamilton, for his conduct in the
Chair, and the Gentlemen retired.

RELICS OF ROYALTY.-AMIN/GraY (Mary/Wid),
Aug. 29.—The gloves worn by Mary, Queen of
Scotsl those worn by King Charles 11. and the
cap worn by Queen Anne, at their respective
coronations, are now in the possession of a lady
residing in this city. They are made of fine
cambric, and are remarkably plain. The gloves
of Queen Mary are long, those of King Charles
short, and bound round with white ribband.—
The cap is likewise bound with white ribband,
and trimmed with lace about one inch and a
quarter in width. These ancient relics were left
by Bishop Spratt to his niece, and by her to her
daughter, the late Mrs. Elizabeth Scott, at whose
death they came into the possession of the lady
alluded to above,—(New York fiver.)

Mr. JOHN FARDOU, of Woodstock, Oxford-
shire, some time since gathered from a tree in his
garden five apples, known there as the Kempster
pippin, or Blenheim orange, whose united weight
was 88 ounces. The largest weighed 22 ounces
2 drachms, and its circumference 141- inches.—
Mr. Fardou presented the writ to the Horticul-
tural Society of London, and the Council have
awarded Mr. F. their silver Bantsian Medal.

67,

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4 $:
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PRICE SEVEN PENCt.

SIR IL LOWE, YOUNG LAS CASES, and O'MEARA

The following article appears in some of the
Morning Journals, and is stated to have been
taken from a respectable Evening Paper of last
night. We have already expressed our opinion
-on the conduct which Sir HUDSON LOWE ought
to pursue. The personal attack upon him de--
serVes no other notice than that of the law, and
we hope that Sir HUDSON Will resolutely resort
to it. lie had a duty to perform in which the
peace and security of all ,Europe was in--
volved. It appears' from the subjoined state-
ment that he had artifice and conspiracy to
encounter, and the utmost vigilance, caution%
and firmness were necessary to defeat the
plans -which no doubt were .on foot to effect
the escape of his prisoner. The sagacity and
resolution of Sir Ilunsorr effectually frustrated
these traitorous attempts, and he is% therefore,
not only entitled to the thanks of this country,
but to the gratitude of all the Continental
Powers. The outrage practised on him is no
longer an affair personal to him, but demands the
investigation of Government. We know nothing
of Sir HUDSON LOWE, whom we never saw, but
by his public character and conduct. We take
up the subject on public grounds) and a senle of
what is due to a British Officer who has been
grossly insulted. for having firmly discharged
duty of impottattee to the civilized world.

" The lodging at the Dog tavern, it appears by information
given to the police officer who went there to inquire for young'
Las Cases,' had been taken for. him by Mr. Holmes, who
resides at No. 3, Lyon's-inn, close adjoining.. Mr. Holmes
had called on the Thursday, and said that the young gentle--
man would not require the lodging for three or four days.
On the day after the occurrence with Sir H. Lowe, the publi-
cation of Las Cases'Jouinal was announced by Mr. Colbuni,.
the bookseller, of Conduit-street. Mr. Colburn having been
applied to for information respecting the young man, referred
the persbn applying to Mr. O'Meara, who, it is understoxl,
residas in the same house at Lyon's-inn, with Mr. Holmes.
The publication of Las Cases' Journal in its original form
had:been some' tithe since announced in the French journals.
The reason why this publication did not go on in that country
is not precisely` known, but it is certain that since the publics=
don of Mr. O'Meara's work, the work of Las Cases has been
announced for publication in ,pngland ; of course, since Mr
Colburn says so, young Las Cases has not been employed in
this affair ; but there is no doubt that the young man has been
living, or associating, nearly the whole time he has been in this
country with Mr. Holmes and Mr. O'Meara.

Mr. Holmes, it ninstheobserVed, is the only English person,
and indeed the only person, whose name is brought forward, in
any way, to vouch for the authenticity of Mr. O'Meara's com-
pilation ; for, it is to be obserted, where Mr. O'Meara speaks
of Count Bertrand of Count 3fontliolon, he refers only to them
for the facilitieS he had in obtaining information, and not for
the fidelity of his statements. Almost the whole of the other
persons spoken of in Mr. O'Meara's book, whether English or
foreign, are dead.

Thlis the authenticity of his relations rests alirfost etclusively
upon Iris Own as4ertions, particularly irr what relates to Sir Hud.:
son Lowe, backed and supported by a simple declaration from
Mr. Holmes; that the original manuscript had been confided to
his care.

The Journal of Las: Cases relates tb a gfeat part of the same
portion a time as the compilation of Mr. O'Meara. Hence
many important motives .foi desiring that the two narratives
should harmonize together may be surmised.

That the public may judge of the nature of the relations pre,-
viotisly subsisting between Mr. Holmes, Mr: O'Meara, and the
foreign persons who were under Sir Hudson Lowe's charge at
St. Helena, some extracts are here added from a letter sent, at
the same time with some French books, under a false address,
from Mr. Holmes to Mr. O'Meara, whilst the latter was sup..
posed to be still at St, Helena.

The discovery of this letter; and the consequent failure, at
lea:St for some time, of the plans and schemes it disclosed, with
the disappointment to the contrivers, whether foreign or Eng-
lish, may well account for the inveterate hostility which has
been shown to Sir Hudson Lowe. •

The Rublic, however, will best draw their own inferences ;
and if young Las Cases does not escape justice, they will have,
perhaps, still further opportunities of judging hether his quar-
rel with Sir Hudson was, in any sense of the word, a private
quarrel; and whether, on the contrary, it did not arise out of a
cowardly conspiracy (of which Las Cases was only the tool)
against that officer, for having faithfully performed an impor-
tant public duty.
" MR. HOLMES TO JAMES FORBES, ESQ.*
" Dear O'Meara—l have atleng th seen Mr. B—. Theletter
you gavehim for me,heleft at Ascension Island, to be forwaried,so
that 1 knownot your instructions. lie did think of going to the con-
tinent, but is fearful of improper motives being ascri betl to his tak..
ing the journey. I told him that if business had any thing. to do
with the object of his journey, I would be happy to go in his
place; bu.t he says he has only one commission to execute at
Paris, which is so unpleasant that he would not trouble me ;
and that, indeed, his name being mentioned, he thought I
could not effect it. If, therefore, you are aware of the nature
of the commission, and that it is necessary still to execute it;
you had better get rrre authorised to transact the business
for you.
" I expect to hear from my friends at Rome and Munich, of
which you shall have due information.

"Lady C----- is on the Continent, so that 'I must keep Las
Cases' watch until I hear from hi►n. I have written . to, and
sent him a small enclosure from his friends.

B-, I mentioned to have seen, and that the parcels
brought by him should be appropriated as directed.
" Ever yours,
(Signed) " W. HOLMES.
" Another day is allowed, and I continue this duplicate to
say, that the letter from Ascension Island, left by is
just come to hand. All the parcels sent in July last by Air.
I- are safe: since which, two have been left by some un-
known hand. One brought by B-, and two by 13-
" I have persuaded Brash to take the French books, and
they follow him to Deal to-night, to be shipped ; he has in..
structions to give them to F-. The English books arc sent
to Stokoe.

" I intend starting for Paris next week, to see Lafitte, and
perhaps will see Las Cases ; but fear my journey will be use..
less, from the insufficiency of the document I hold. 8.....-,
much regrets he did not bring me full authority to act.
" Street and Parker refused to pay Gourgaud's bill, but they
have since heard from Las Cases, and it is settled. I under-
stand the old General does not mean to publish ; but should
he, Perry, of the Chronicle, has promised his assistance.
" I understand you are to draw for 1,800/. You shall hear
the issue of my visit to Lafitte, and if your remittances are
paid, trade of that kind can be carried on to any extent. Again,
God bless you
" June 26, 1818." (Signed) " IV. HOLMES.
*TI was the sumseription of the letter, but it commences
"-Dear O'Meara."