The Sun.
London, England, 1841-08-09 00:00:00

THE SUN, LONDON, MONO- Y, AUGUST 9, 1841.

DREADFUL EXPLOSION AT

THORNLEY COLLIERY.

MELANCHOLY SACRIFICE OF LIFE.
(From the Northern (Sunderland) Times.)
Shortly after our first edition had gone to press this
morning, the lamentable intelligence of an expli;sion
having taken place in Thornley Colliery, was communi-
cated to our office. Our reporter hastened to the spot,
a distance of about fourteen miles from this town, and
on our arrival we found the town of Thornley enveloped
in gloom, and at the corners of the streets were to be
seen groups of the colliers congregated together in gloom
and dismay.
Thornley is an important colliery, which has been in
operation about six years, and this we understand is the
first serious explosion which has occurred. The popula-
tion, according to the 'recent census, is about 2,700,
chiefly colliers' families.
To give our readers a better idea of the nature of the
locality of the accident, we must premise that the Thorn-
ley colliery contains three seams. _ The first is called the
five-quarter seam, and its depth is 85 fathoms • the se-
cond is the Hutton seam, which is situated at a; depth of
145 fathoms ; and the third is the seam in which this
most melancholy and unfortunate accident occurred, viz.,
the Harvey seam, which is at a depth of 166 fathoms.
This is certainly a great depth, but it is only trifling
when compared with the Monkwearmouth Colliery,
which is upwards of •270 fathoms.
The accident took place at fifteen minutes past four,
immediately after the principal part of the workmen in
the Harvey seam, the hewers, to the number of fifty, had
left the pit, and the putters and trappers above were left
to attend to the ventilation, &c. The putters and trap-
pers alone were left in the pit, with one unfortunate in-
dividual, Thomas Haswell, hewer, who is lame, and who
has on two occasions been before most seriously injured.
Information was immediately given at Thornley Col-
liery-office, that a 'serious accident had occurred, and Ali%
Hecklesithe resident viewer, Mr. Carnes, together with
the under-viewer and overman, immediately resolved
on descending the shaft, in order that every assistance
might be given to any parties who had escaped the ex-
plosion ; which was only known to the workmen in the
other seams by a rushing of the air in .the staple, which
led them to the conclusion that something was wrong in
the Harvey seam. In the meantime the news 'of the
fatal accident spread like wildfire through thoyillage,
and even to the adjacent district, and the, whole popula-
ftion had assembled at the bank of the pit.
Mr. Heckles and the gentleman who had descended
the pit, had, by this time,.ascertained that the accident
had originated in the 'north-west direction from the
shaft. Mr. 11. however, despatched parties in different.
directions, himself and the overmen examining the dis-
trict where the accident had occurred ; and, accordingly,
his party found the bodies of those who had been killed
confined to a space of 200 yards in the north-west dis-
trict of the Harvey seam. Two horses were also found
dead. The villagers remained in anxious suspense for
the period of one hour, during. which Mr. Heckles and
his party were engaged in bringing the bodies up the
shaft. It must not be imagined, however, that those who
had been only injured, remained so long down the
shaft ; for it is due to the activity of the parties con-
cerned, to say that in a quarter of an hour they were all
"at bank." They were all able to walk to their respec-
tive homes, excepting Jonathan Gardener, whO died in
about five hours after leaving the pit.
The following is a correct list of the unfortunate suf-
feeers :—Killed—Thomas Haswell, overman, 42 ; Peter
Graydon, driver, 11 ; George Ord, flatman, 17 ; Robert
Gardener, trapper, 9 ; Thomas Hall, putter, 18 ; John
Graham, putter, 16 ; George Graham, do. 17 ; John
Armstrong, putter, 15 ; Jona Gardener, putter, 16.
Seriously injured—George Crozier, wayleaver ; James
Maudlin, overman ; Thomas Pile, trapper.
The following, though in the same division of the pit
escaped uninjured :—John Humble, trapper ; George
Gillings, driver ; R. Palmer, putter ; J. 'Wilson, trapper ;
Wm. Willis, do. ; M. Gardener, hewer ; Thomas Welch,
putter ; W. Eltringham, do. ; Andrew Bor.es, water
leader ; Wm. Woollett, do. ; George Hogan, shifter ;
Thos. Atkinson, do.
With respect to the condition in which they found the
pit, little difference was observable in its aspect. There
were a few board-end stoppings, or wood partitions,
which had been violently knocked out of the ends of the
galleries which they inclosed. These were immediately
restored in order to renew the ventilation, and this was
effected in about three-quarters of an hour.
The greatest praise is due to the faculty, who lost no
time in being present to render their last services to the
poor fellows.
A coroner's inquest was held to view the bodies on Sa-
turday. •
The pit is ventilated on the same principle as the best
collieries on the Tyne and the Wear, viz. by an up-cast
and down-cast shaft. The blame, so far as it can be as-
certained, there is little doubt will be found to rest with
the boy Gardener, who has already suffered.

One week's traffic on the different lines of rail-
way now open, as 'reported in the Railway Times of
Saturday last, amount, within a few pounds, to the
enormous sum of 99,0001.
GRAND JUNCTION RAILWAY.—The half-
yearly meeting of the Grand Junction Company was held
on Friday at Liverpool, when a dividend of 51. 10s. per
cent. on the half-year was declared. Three new direc-
tors were appointed, and the proceedings were very una-
nimous. The cost of the Grand Junction Railway (in-
cluding land and all expenses). 78 miles- of roap, was
1,644,435/., or 21,0821. per mile. The purchase of the
Warrington and Newton line (44 miles) was 65,4631., or
13,781/. per mile. The purchase of the Chester and
Crewe lines (21 miles), 270,1151., or 12,8631. per mile.
The total cost of 1031 miles of road was 1,980,014/. The
stock of engines, carriages, &c., was 258,2061., making a
total cost of line and works of 2,238,220/., equal to
21,5251. per mile for the whole 10:31 miles. The capital
in shares of 1001.. 501., and 251., was 2,203,3001.,
and the land unsold, &c., 30,0001.; making altogether
2,233,3001.
LOVE AT FIRST SIGHT.—A Philadelphia
correspondent writes us as follows :—A very amusing in-
cident occurred in this city a few days since, which I
must communicate for your paper. A venerable
*gentle-
man, of respectable appearance, under a sudden inspira-
tion of the tender passion, stopped, on Wednesday
morning, at the corner of Walnut and Broad-streets, an
elderly lady, and, without the formality of an introduction,
tendered his hand in marriage. It must be mentioned that
they were strangers to each other, never having met be-
fore, and both of respectability. A bystander, who over-
heard the conversation, thus relates the dialogue :—Mr.
A.—This is a very warm morning, madam. Are you not
fatigued? Miss G. (in a pensive tone)—The day is
warm, Sir; but lam not fatigued. Mr. A.—Mgy I ask
if you are married ? Miss G.—l am not, Sir. Mr. A.—
Would you like to have a house of your own? Miss G.
—I would—very much. Mr. A.--What is your name,
if I may presume to ask ? Miss G.—Miss G. Mr. A.
—Where do you reside ? Miss G.—ln street.
Mr. A.—l have a friend who would boueld pleased
like with
to
you, and wants an establishment ; w you
see him ? Miss G.—l would. Mr. A.—l am the gen-
tleman. I have seen you before, and admired you. I
would wish to make you comfortable. When can I
call on you ? Miss G.—(With maiden coyness)—
Next Saturday. Mr. A.—lt is too long—it is an age
—I am impatient—name this afternoon. Miss G.—l can't,
for an engagement ; but I will see you to-morrow after-
noon at five o'clock. Mr. A.—l will call at that hour
and know my fate. Good morning. May you make
me happy.—l have given you an unvarnished account
of this singular case of wooing, as it actually occurred,
and assure you that it is not romance, but reality.—New
York Herald.
SUDDEN DEATH.—An awfully sudden death
took place at liorncastle on Friday last. A pensioner
named Pacey was assisting in loading hay in a field of
his brother's on the Wong, when he was seized with a
dizziness in the head and got down from the load, but
before medical assistance could be procured he was a
corpse. The deaths of his father and sister were also
equally sudden.—Lincoln Mercury.
WALSALL.--On Wednesday afternoon, about
one hundred and fifty electors met Mr. Scott, the Mem-
ber for the Borough, at dinner, Mr. R. A. Kettle in the

chair.
RETORT COURTEOUS.--A Russian lady
being engaged to dinner with M. de Talleyrand, at that
time Minister for Foreign Affairs, was detained a full
hour by some unexpected accident. The famished
guests grumbled, and looked at their watches. On the
lady's entrance, one of the company observed to his
neighbour in Greek, " When a woman is neither young
nor handsome, she ought to arrive betimes." The lady,
turning round sharply, accosted the satirist in the same
language, " When a woman," said she, " has the misfor-
tune to dine with savages, she always arrives too soon."
DINNER TO THE HON. MR. MOSTYN.—
On Tuesday last a public dinner was given to the Hon.
Member for Flint, at tha Town-hall, at which about 90
gentlemen sat down; the evening passed, off with great
conviviality.
The Hon. Captain Maurice Berkeley has pub-
lished an address of thanks to the electors of Gloucester,
dated on board her Majesty's ship Thunderer, off Gib-
raltar, in which he declares that on " the all-engrossing
subject of the Corn-laws he shall give his most cordial
support to her Majesty's present Ministers." His creed,
he says, is, " Live and let live"—" Do unto others as you
would they should do tint!) you."
ALARMING STEAM-BOAT ACCIDENT.—NAR-
now ESCAPE.—On the return of the Richmond steam-
boat from Putney, on Saturday afternoon, the vessel
struck against Putney-bridge with a very great force, to
the great alarm of all on board. In a very few minutes
it was discovered that the machinery was so much injured
that it was found impossible to proceed any further, and
in order to prevent the vessel driving against Battersea-
bridge, the order was given to let go the anchor, and the
passengers were obliged to be conveyed to London by
other steam-vessels.
INTERESTING TO GEOLOGISTS.—On Mon-
day last . the workmen engaged in the stone quarry of
Mr. Littler, in the neighbourhood of St. Helen's, unco-
vered two trees, embedded in the stone about fifteen feet
below the surface of the earth. The bark of the trees
was carbonized and covered with perfect impressions of
the leaves, branches of plants, &c.—Liverpool Chronicle.
SUDDEN DEATH.—On the night of Wednes-
day week a nurse girl, Mary Ann Stanley, in the service
of Mr. Laxton, Darlington-street, expired very suddenly
while taking the children to bed.—Staffordshire Examiner
SHOEMAKING AT GUATEMALA.— At the
moment of starting, our remaining attendant said he
could not go until he had made a pair of shoes ; and we
were obliged to wait; but it did not take long. Stand-
ing on an untanned cow-hide, he marked the size, of his
feet with a piece of coal, cut them out with his machete,
made proper boles, and passing a leather string under
the instep, around the heel, and between the' great doigt ;
[
du pied and the one next to it, wag shod.—Stephotes
Travels in- America.

DUTCH MAIL.
to Tp;IiIrEdoinrAAGII.TE'
Vryheid, who was condibermnmerdlytao
AUG. 4.—llis Majesty has been pleaSed
Meeter,
mf'oriutreryienatrls-T
imTporlkisodner-
ment. Mrs. Elizabeth Fry arrived at the Hague yester-
day with relatives and attendants.
TIIE HAGUE, AUG. 5.--The statue of ])e Rueter is to
be inaugurated at Flushing on the 18tb. It is hoped that
his Majesty will be present at the ceremony.
NIMEGUEN, AUG. I.—To-day at noon a most tremen-
dous storm of hail and rain passed over this city ; the
hailstones were of extraordinary size. It is to be feared
that it has done great damage to the stcnding crops.
The heavy rains have already done great injury- to the
crops in most parts of our country. Some public works
have also suffered severely.
KAMPEN, AUG. 3.—A1l the accounts from the banks
of the Rhine hold out very unfavourable prospects of the
vintage. The last hurricane has destroyed all hopes of
even a moderate vintage.
DUTCH FUNDS.—.AIIIITERDAW, Ave. 6.
• Mon..
Actual Debt, 2% per Cent 5214 52%
Jitto, ditto 5 per cent. ..... ...... 100% 1101%
Amort syndie,434, per cent......... ......... 91)4 91%
Ditto, ditto, 3% per cent. 7.1 73%
Commercial Company, 4t per cent.......... 1554 /55%
Ditto (18.35 and 1837) 5 per, cent. ..... 10134 102
Loan 1837, 5 per cent-- .................. 204 111%
Exchange on London, One 'm0nth............ ......... 12 02%
Two months ......... 11 95
Hamburgh, One m0nth............ 8114
Two months ......... 35 564
Dutch Papers, Aug. 7.
BELGIAN UNDS—Battsetts, ALT. 7.
Actual Debt, 2% per Cent. ..................... 52%
Rothschild's Lean, 5 per Csnt ....... ...... 101
Loan of Thirty Millions, 4 per Cent...« ..... 22%
3 per Cent. .......
.. 71

Thirty.aeven

,(1,440 ..... ........... RH%
Loan of City, 1T32, 4 per Cent.... .... ....... 82
Society of Commerce, 4yi per 9 i%
Rank of Belgium, 5 per Cent..................... 74%
Nationa I Society . •••••••••••••••• .•••
Exchange on London (short) ..... 11 95
Brussels Papers, Aug, 7.
AUSTRIAN FUND3.—VlstrNa, JOLT 31
rive per Witt. htetalliques ........ ...... 105
Four per Cents........•••••••••••••«••••••••••«•••••• ........ 97
Three per Cents. .............»....».».•..«......» 74
Bank Shares ....... •••••••«•••••••••••••••• ••••••••••••••• 1518
...Allgemeine Zanotti. At.g. 4

COURT. CIRCULAR.
Their Royal Highnesses the Duke and Duchess of
Cambridge, and -the PiincesseS-Augusta and Mary of
Cambridge, attended by Lady Augusta Somerset, Baron
Knesebeck, and Colonel Jones, left town on Saturday
evening, for their residence at Kew.
The I)uke and Duchess of Cambridge honoured the
Italian Opera with their presence on Saturday evening.
Baron Brunow, the Russian Ambassador, and M. Tri-
coupi, the Grecian Minister, transacted business at the
Foreign-office on Saturday.
The Postmaster-General had an interview with the
Chancellor of the Exchequer on Saturday at his official
residence in Downing-street.
The Marquis of Normanby arrived in town on Satar-
day from Ryde, Isle of Wight.
The Earl of Albemarle arrived in town yesterday from
Brighton.
Lord Adolphus Fitzclarence has returned to town
from Portsmouth.
Despatches from the Governor of the Cape of Good
Hope, and also from the Governor of St. Helena, were
received yesterday at the Colonial-office.

AQUATICS.
MATCH BETWEEN THE LEANDER AND
CAMBRIDGE CLUBS.
On Saturday this great eight-oared cutter match,
which has excited so much interest in the sporting world,
between the Cambridge and Leander Clubs, took place.
For some time past this match has been the principal
topic of conversation among the admirers of river sports.
From the celebrity of both the Clubs, it occasioned con-
siderable speculation among betting men.
In order to prevent either of the crews possessing ad-
vantage over the other, in having a superior boat, two
cutters were, some time since, commenced by Messrs.
Searle, the well-known boat-builders of Lambeth, of
equal dimensi6ns, and constructed after the most approved
principles, both being much admired, and measuring 53
feet 5 inches in length.
From an early. hour in the afternoon, the river pre-
sented a most animated appearance, being nearly covered
with cutters, boats, and steamers. Westminster Bridge,
Lyon's and Searle's yards, and the whole of the river
fronts on both sides of the Thames, were crowded with a
fashionable company, amongst whom we observed seve-
ral elegantly-attired ladies; while the numerous steamers
were well filled.
A few minutes after five o'clock the start 'took place
from Westminster Bridge, the Leander Club being in-
shore, which was considered to be a half-boat's length in
favour of the Cambridge. The Leander Club, however,
took the lead, closely followed by their opponents. The
river at this moment presented one of the most interest-
ing spectacles which has been witnessed for many years.
Both crews rowed in the most gallant style, the Leander
keeping the lead about two lengths a-head, in which
state they continued until they reached the Red House,
when they (the Leander Club) improved their distance,
and reached Putney Bridge a minute and a quarter be-
fore their opponents, amidst the cheers of thousands of
spectators and the firing of cannon.
The distance was performed by the Leander Club in
34 minutes which was a very short time, considering the
wind in Chelsea reach.
The Leander Club dined at the Star and Garter
Tavern, and the Cambridge at the Bells Tavern.
The whole of the bridges were covered with respect-
able company, and Wandsworth•meadows presented the
appearance of an Epsom downs in miniature.
We did not hear of any accident.
The following are the names of the crew of the Cam-
bridge Club :—Messrs. Brett, Abercrombie, Ridley,
Chadwell, Denman, Selwyn, Cobbald, and Nicholson ;
steered by Mr. Egan.
The Leander crew :—Messrs. Dagglish, C. Pollock,
Ommany, Jenkins, Rornain, Wallace, Layton, and
Julius , steered by Mr. Sheppard.

LORD FRANCIS _EGERTON'S
YEOMANRY-
" When we stated last week that we had heard of Lord.
Francis Egerton's intention to raise a troop of yeomanry,
we said we had no reason to doubt the truth of our in-
formant. We had, however, a faint hope that it might
.prove he had been misinformed ; for in the present state
of the country, and with the recollection of what the
Manchester Yeomanry Corps was, we could not look,
without apprehension, to the irritation which might be
created by the formation of a new military force, com-
posed of hot-headed partisans. Our hope has been dis-
pelled by the Manchester Chronicle of Wednesday, which
not only acknowledges the truth of the statement, no
doubt from instructions received, but gives such an ex-
planation of the reason for raising the new force as
greatly to strengthen our suspicions of a conspiracy
amongst the great Tory landowners, to organize the
means of repressing the expression of public opinion
upon the great monopoly which is rapidly
reducing great
masses of the community to starvation.",
An extract from the Manchester Chronicle follows,
which has already appeared in The Sun, and then the
Manchester Times continues :—" The whole story is ob-
viously a fabrication, especially when we consider the
coincidence of his Lordship's determination with the re-
sults of the elections. Lord Francis saw that his party
would be in office, and that consequently the Royal con-
sent, without which a military force cannot be raised,
would be obtained. The determination was exactly con-
temporaneous with the ascertainment of Tory strength
in the House of Commons. Had the elections been in
favour of Reformers—had they secured the continuance
in office of men pledged against injurious monopolies, is
there any man besotted enough to believe that we should
have seen a Tory Nobleman raising yeomanry ' in iiio-
nour of the Queen?'
" The truth seems to be, that Lord Francis Egerton
expects that the people will not peaceably lie down to
die for want of food ; that he fears that a starving.popu-
lation may become a desperate population ; and that
knowing that disaffection in Ireland may occasion a great
draft of the regular army to that unhappy island, he
has determined to be prepared for his own defence."

SAXON NAMES.—An inference of some im•
portance may be drawn from the fact noticed by Mr.
Turner, in his " Manners and Household Expenses of
England," that the household servants generally bore
Saxon names, because it corroborates the opinion, that
the Normans employed the people whom they had sub-
dued in menial offices—" hewers of wood and drawers of
water :"—" We may note, as a striking peculiarity in
this document, that the household servants are generally
distinguished by Saxon names. We have Ilande and
Jacke of the bake-house ; Hicqe the tailor, and Jacke
the keeper of the Countess's harriers, Dobbe the Shep-
herd ; Diquon, Gobithesty, and Treubodi, who were
often employed in carrying letters ; as well as Slinga-
way, a courier, whose name is most opposite, and was
derived possibly from his gait and manner."— [From some
of these names we now have Hanson, Jackson, Hickson,
Dobson, and Dickson.] •
THE HARVEST.—The hay harvest makes but
slow progress in this part of the kingdom—the rainy
weather offering frequent obstacles to the operations of
the labourer. Many crops are yet uncut. These have
been somewhat improved in bulk by the rains ; but the
general return will be " light." The corn crops in ge-
neral are looking well since the late rains ; and should
favourable weather ensue, we may hope for an average
harvest. Oats have grown, very much within the last
few weeks, and look promising ; though on cold lands
there may be a want of straw. Barley looks well ; and
wheat, though thin, is well headed, and appears healthy.
Turnips got in at the proper season look promising ;
and the later crops have improved with the rain. Pota-
toes, we are afraid, will not be an abundant crop. The
late winds may have shaken .corn a little ; but, from
what we have seen, the roots are not generally Much
loosened.—Durham Chronicle.
THE 131stwr OF LONDON.—A certain aged
Rector, in Middlesex, has lately been summoned to attend
his Lordship to give an account of his conduct on the
following charges :—That he is in the habit of opening
his window, and converting himself into what the Ame-
ricans call a trollop, viz., sitting in an arm chair and giv-
ing the passers-by a view of the soles of his shoes—that,
in such unclerical posture, he has been seen reading .a
newspaper on the Lord's day—and last, but not least in
the Bishop's eyes, that his reverence has a cask of ale
(canon ale of course) on his drawing-room sofa ! The
old gentleman, not a little annoyed at. being brought from
a distance to answer such paltry charges,
told the Bishop
that he was not aware there was anything very heinous
in any of the charges, supposing they were all true, but
pleaded not guilty to the Sunday newspaper reading. It
is really pitiful to find a learned man like Dr. Blomfield
listening to the tittle-tattle of every busy fool. If a cler-
gyman is guilty of any immorality, it is a Bishop's duty
to interfere, but the eccentricities of seventy may surely
be passed over. It is too late at such an age to study
Chesterfield or the dancing-master.—Sunday Times.

MEXICO.-FREE TRADE.

We have.received by the favour of an eminent house
at Liverpool in the Mexican trade, a copy of a very able
pamphlet, published recently at Tampico, which contains
some points strikingly illustrative of the blessings. of the
protective system, and serves to corroborate very strongly
observations made by Lord Palmerston in his speech at
Tiverton. It is entitled " A Representation to the most
Excellent the President of the Republic, by the Mer-
chants and Inhabitants of Tampico, praying for the Re-'
peal of the law of 15 per Cent.,' and suggesting other
measures in its stead."

The following is a translation :
" To the most Excellent the President of the
Republic.
" The commercial body of Vera Cruz, which sees ap-
proaching and imminent the ruin in which that popula-
tion essentially mercantile is about to be overwhelmed,
has again raised its complaining voice in an exposition to
his Excellency General Don Antonio Lopez de Santa
Anna, heseeching him, that, with the high credit and in-
fluence appertaining to his elevated position in society,
he might intercede with your Excellency, and so induce
you to propose to the representatives of the Mexican
people the repeal of the law of the 26th of Novem-
ber, 1839, which increased the customs duty, in the
amount of 10 per cent. above the 5 per cent., which had
previously been deemed sufficient.
" The subject is the srime upon which the merchants
and inhabitants of Tampico address themselves to the
Supreme Government, but, in truth, without flattering
themselves of a good result; since they have observed the
little regard paid by the Chambers to the previous publi-
cations of the press, to the representations of so many
mercantile places, and what was still more, to the repre-
sentations made by several Departmental Juntas. in whose
writings was pioved, beyond question, the ruin which must
be produced, and has been produced, by an impost in no-
torious contradiction to the true principles of political
economy. It was easy, however, to foresee that no fa-
vourable resolution would be adopted upon our solicita-
tion, although we ask with justice, at the same time with
the abrogation of that law, other points advantageous
alike to this population and to the Treasury; whereby,
with a greater development of our trade the public re-
venue would be increased. But although we have been
disregarded, we do not the less recognise in your Excel-
lency a decided inclination to justice and equity, and the
truly anxious desire to promote the happiness of the.coun-
try. For that-reason we should console ourselves, and
we do console ourselves, in .acquiring a new proof that it
is a fatality which continually interferes to render nuga-
tory the best sentiments which your Upright heart enter-
tains, as well for the good of this port as for that of the
whole Republic.
" Tampico, Excellent Sir, like Vera Cruz, is essen-
tially, and almost exclusively, mercantile. So, at the
same time that we adhere fully to the solid reasons, with
which that place invoked the patronage of an illustrious
General, we have recourse to your Excellency, with the
conviction, that in the extreme affliction to which we
are reduced, it is only the energetic will of two illustrious
personages, equally interested in the prosperity and great-
ness of their country, that can apply .a prompt and effi-
cacious•remedy to evils of such magnitude. The urgent
necessity for such a remedy stimulates us to state clear
proofs, respectfully, yet apart from flattery, which a great
and noble mind, such as your Excellency's, would re-
pudiate, and which, above all, would ill become our pre-
sent critical circumstances: The sufferings are extreme,
comparable only to those of the sick at the point of death,
who can receive no relief from palliatives, without the
prompt application of the most powerful medicines. And
how could a physician apply the fit remedies unless he
thoroughly understood the disease ? How could he un-
derstand the disease, unless to the symptoms which he
observes there be added the patient's exact account of the
causes which produced his ills ? Why should tot we,
therefore, reveal those to your Excellency ? Why should
not we enlighten your mind upon the capital. errors in
matters of finance which have been committed of late
years, when there is not a single inhabitant
in this most extensive country, who does nor,
agree in ascribing to your Excellency the most
pure intentions to establish the common good upon the
most solid foundation ? Whence comes it, then, that
those intentions so pure .do not produce their effect ?
It must be told—your Excellency has had the misfortune
of not meeting with ministers and councillors who knew
or sought to maintain themselves in high views of the
general good. They circumscribed themselves within a
narrow circle, drawn according to ideas of miserable
localism. This is a truth, evident and irrefragabl% even
though the proposition may seem to your Excellency to
be presumptuous ; and we shall prove it by explaining
the errors which have produced such mistaken policy.
• "We might cite as a grave error the creation of the
Bank with part of the produce of the maritime customs,
which above all ought to be applied to cover the ex-
penses of the State. To apply them to create a forced
industry is the same as to commence building with the
roof. It was more advisable, more useful, more immediately
a necessary to the public good, that whenever there was
surplus it should be applied to open good roads, whereas
there are none in this vast territory better than broken
paths. Circulation would have been facilitated, and the
means of transport rendered more economical. This
would have been a general good ; but to apply a part of
those maritime revenues to thOcreation of industry was
erroneous, even if, with the_ remainder, all the expenses
could be covered ; since one part of the contributions of
the people was destined to loans, which could only
be advanced to responsible persons, which was the
same as lending the sweat of the poor to -the rich
to enable them to grow richer. It was above
all not only an error, but a flagrant injustice, to
persist in favouring industry in that way, since the mo-
ment the revenues became insufficient to cover sacred
income's- of the widow,;the soldier, and every
class of public servants and creditors are impaired ; and
' this only because of the inconceivable enterprise of
sustaining a forced industry, which has produced other
errors.
" One of those, deeply disastrous, was that which was

committed in prohi biting the importation ofcommon cloths,
and of fine and common thread. With both prohibitions
the Government deprived itself of no less a sum than five
millions and a half, whilst in the meantime the charges
of the State were increased on the other side. A consider-
able error was committed, operating against the very
principles upon which the system of indirect taxation is
founded, and which is intelligible to the narrowest com-
prehension, that the fewer the number of articles legally
permitted to be imported the less they will produce to
the revenue. If that truth is plain to every one, how
much may we be surprised at the prohibition of those
two articles of importation, of which the duties were
the most productive ? Will your Excellency believe,
then, or can you be persuaded that we exaggerate in
stating that the prohibition of those two manufactures
has diminished the maritime customs in an amount
equal to five millions and a half ? As your Excellency
may distrust this truth, or the manufacturers may in-
terest themselves to maintain it in disbelief, we shall
establish it, by the result of the calculations which they
themselves have published. When they solicited per-
mission to import 50,000 quintals of cotton, they
affirmed that they wanted that quantity to keep
their machines in work for six months. Then,
according to their own showing, they employed
in one year 100,000 quintals ; and granting that
one-half was converted into cloth, and the other
half was employed in thread ; it being on the other hand
certain that a piece of our national cloth dons not weigh
more than 71bs., we shall have it the 50,000 quintals,
(or take 42,500) will produce 607,143 pieces of 31
yards, or about 18,821,436 yards. If an equal quantity
of foreign manufacture were imported it would produce
to the Treasury, Dollars.
For the cloth ;..
For the thread 1,372,749

T0ta1........... 5,692,266
" No one could deny the evidence of that calculation,
and if the manufacturers cry out against it, or, for the
sake of distracting your Excellency's imagination, pre-
tend that so enormous a sacrifice is compensated by the
good which it produces, you should not listen to them,
for it is only another of their sophisms.
" The foreign cloth goes into the markets of the in-
terior at three reels per yard, and it sells for not less than
three and a quarter ; and the shopkeeper cannot dispose
of the national manufacture at less than 2:1 reals. Then
the saving to the consumer is but half a real in the
yard. and on the whole it amounts to 1,177,589 dollars,
which the consuming class economises in the cloth. But
the foreign thread when it was admitted sold for from
6 to 6f reals the lb.; whereas the national, at the
average of all the markets sells for 11 reels, thero being
some instances as high as 12 and more. Thus upon the
whole consumption of 4,250,000 lbs., making allowance
fer the saving in the article of cloth, there is
an actual burthen of about a million dollars. Far, therefore
from benefiting the country upon the existing prohibi-
tive system, the nation and the treasury lose more than
61 millions annually to enrich ten or t*elve manufac-
turers, who maintain miserably the limited number of
families whom they employ. Here, Sir, is the truth,
free from all illusion, and resting upon that, we might
apply the proverb, " Cry ravens, and they will pick out
your eyes. The only gain which the country derives
is, that about three millions less are exported, which
went to pay for the foreign cloths and thread ; and the
onerous system only benefits two or three departments,
with the ruin of the remainder, especially those of the
north. See then to what disastrous errors in politics
and economy your Excellency's counsellors, and persons
of some name, have been led by a miserable spirit of lo-
calism, cloaked under the fascinating names of patriotism
and public good.
" Thus, your Excellency will observe, that the only
good which is obtained by the nation in general is, that
three millions less of hard dollars are exported ; and it
can scarcely be said that this is a good, when tg obtain
it the treasury and the consuming class make an annual
sacrifice of Or millions, which go in a very small quan-
tity to the agriculturists, and the rest to the manufac-
turers, to the loss of the army, the widows, and the
whole class of employed, who groan under the enormous
arrear of their salaries.
„ A little time ago, the General of the army of the
north, on account of his urgent necessities, had recourse
to the expedient of seeking permission for the importa-
tion of prohibited goods in limited quantities, to be regu-
lated so as to bear proportion to the indispensable sup-
plies. And what happened ? That the manufacturers
raised their cries to heaven. They assailed and censured
this prudent measure, and misrepresented the question,
with the farmers crying by their side, until the authori-
ties in various places, and (what is most strange of all)
the Junta of one department of the north, obtained a re-
vocation of the permission. On all sides, having once
. put the question out of the true point of view, they have
not ceased to deafen the ears of your Excellency- until
they could procure a revocation of the contracts. These
have been withdrawn, upon conditions of indemnification
to the contractors, of which the manufacturers paid no-
thing, but only the poor exhausted nation, which had to
cover and satisfy the indemnities ! Now, most Excellent
Sir, the measure to which recourse had been had was
just and-beuetioial--it was just on account of the object