The Sun.
London, England, 1844-11-08 00:00:00

SHIPPING INTEREST.
(FROM A CORRESPONDENT.)
The public sale of the Hartlepool Union Shipping
Company took place to-day, of part of their ships, and
it was one of the largest public sales ever held in the
North. Amongst the company were J. T. Wawn, Esq.,
M. P. (South Shields); E. T. Wawn, Esq. ; Peter Dale, Esq. ;
Messrs. R. N. and J. Wright, and a numerous assem-
blage of respectable shipowners from Sunderland, New-
castle, and parts adjacent. The competition was very
great, and evinced a great spirit of revival of the mari-
time prospects. The vessels sold as under :
Agility, 196 tons, 1834, sold for 8001.—Mr.Richardson.
Anna -Maria, 223 tons, 1829, sold for 9201.—C. A.
Wawn, Esq.
Albatros, 216 tons, 1837, sold for I,o3sl.—Mr.Taylor.
Eliza Liddell, 261 tons, 1834, sold for 1,4801.—Mr. M.
Easom.
Hart, 214 tons, 1838, sold for 1,325Z—Wright, Bro-
thers, and Co.
HArmonis, 223 tons, 1837, sold for I,37ol.—Ditto.
Ann Emma, 246 tons, 1838, sold for 1,6201.—Mr.
Measom.
John Burrell, 243 tons, 1838, sold for I,3Bsl.—Erring-
ton Bel
The Margarets was not put up.
Aftcr so much depression in shipping affairs, the pre-
sent prospects are very cheering, and no doubt the ship-
ping interest is on the way to rapid and fair remunera-
tion for capital.—Nov. 5, 1844.

EARL RADNOR ON THE ALLOT-

fit T SYS'T'EM.
(From tin- Economi%t.)
Dear Sir,—ln the Chien:de of the 23d there was a
letter signed " W.," on " Allotments," which begins by
stating that " the public attention is now occupied, but
still with hardly sufficient sense of the importance and
merits of the scheme, with the allotment system."
Changing the words " importance and merits" into " mis-
chievousness and deiwaits," I quite agree with " W." ;
and, thinking as I do, that, with some plausible points,
very likely, when not fully considered, to capivate the
benevolent and kind-hearted, it is full of danger, and
directly contrary to every principle of good government
and of political economy, I trouble you with these lines
on the subject.
In the first place, I would ask the friends of the sys-
tem whether thcy think the granting of allotments is a
matter of obligation, or of favour and kindness ? If of
obligation, I would then inquire—
First, on whom the obligation lies ? On all the land-
lords of a parish, or only on some of the principal ones?
If not on all, who is to settle the persons on whom it
lies, and the proportion in which it falls on each ? If on
all, what is to be done in the case of such landowners,
whose proportionate allotment might not be sufficient to
raise a cabbage upon ?
Secondly, in favour of whom is this duty to be per-
formed ? Of all the labourers in the parish, without re-
ference to their circumstances, to their wages, to their
families (whether single or married, and whether having
large families or small), to their character, or ability or
inclination to make good and profitable use of their allot-
ments ? If these things are not to be attended to, how
unjustly and partially will the system work ! If they
are attended to, who is the person to consider these
matters ? The persons lying under the obligation, each
for himself ? This would be opening the door to fa-
vouritism, partiality, and jobbing. The magistrate ?
How long would it be before the regulating of the allot-
ment system at the petty sessions would lapse into the
old system of making up wages only by a method more
complicated and difficult of adjustment ?
But, supposing all these difficulties satisfactorily got
over, and the system fairly at work, I hold that nothing
but evil would ensue.

L It is clearly ascertained that agricultural employ-
ment does not increase commensurately with agricultural
population or even agricultural produce. It is likewise
certain that the demand for workmen in the manufac-
turing and mining districts is greater than the natural
supply ; it is, therefore, most desirable for both parties
that the superfluous people of the one district should
supply the want of population in the other. The natural
indisposition of the agricultural labourer to leave his
home and the law of settlement raise considerable and
unfortunate difficulties in the way of any migration for
this purpose. Is it wise to concoct new ones ? and
what can be more likely to bind a man to his parish than
the occupation of one of those allotments ? " W." talks
of making labour scarce and dear by these means ; is it
not clear that where it is already cheap and too abun-
dant, it will be rendered more so under the operation of
his system ?
11. It is, I believe, generally understood that certain
rules are to be laid down for the regulation of those to
'shorn allotments are given —that they shall cultivate
them according to a particular system—shall forfeit them
if convicted of any legal offence, or of drunkenness—
that they shall be observers of the Sabbath, &c. Does
not this lead directly to a system of spying and control
on the one hand, of dependence and cant and hypocrisy
on the other ? To me all these systems of management
and direction are most distasteful. The English labourer
is a free man, and capable of managing himself and his
own affairs, or he is not. If he is, leave him to his own
management, direction, and discretion. If he is not,
then most assuredly, those who have the care of him are
much to be blamed for, his present condition. " W."
says that allotments, to the English agricultural " serfs
are their provisiOn grounds ; and the English slave-
holders show the same fear of the result which their
West Indian brethren did." What a strange confusion
of ideas ! It was the slave who had provision grounds,
and clothes, and care, and superintendence ; the eman-
cipated negro works for wages. " W." would give the
English labourers provision grounds, and care, and
superintendence—that is, would put them on the same
footing, with regard to their employers, as were the
slaves in the West Indies.

I think that from what I have said, it is clear that
the system of allotments will really aggravate the
evil which it is supposed likely to cure—first, by in-
creasing the supply of agricultural labourers, and by
impeding the free market of labour ; and, secondly, by
making the labourer more dependent. Is it not
manifest, too, that it must lead to a great subdivi-
sion of occupation of land ? Indeed, some benevolent
persons anticipate such subdivision and the creation of
small farms as great improvements ; they call it a re-
turn to the custom of our ancestors. But can it be
doubted that if we return to the practice of our ances-
tors in the matter of occupation of land, we shall also
return to their practice in the matter of cultivation ?
and that all the improvements which have taken place,
by which the produce of the country has been greatly
increased (not, indeed, in the same ratio as the popula-
tion, but still greatly increased), and which require skill
and capital, will soon be lost ? And, if so, we shall
then have, not an increasing produce to supply, in some
degree, the demands of an increasing population, but
a population increasing in a still greater ratio, and de-
pendent on a diminished and diminishing supply. This
will, I think, be the unavoidable consequence of this
measure of short-sighted benevolence—of this charity
not directed by wisdom or principle. When this scheme
is recommended by worthy people, it is always matter
of astonishment with me, that they do not look to Ire-
land. There their favourite system is carried on as ex-
tensively as they can desire. Ireland is the land of al-
lotments and of small farms • is it not also the land of
bad far;v..ing, poor farmers, low wages, and a distressed
people ?
There are many other reasons which might be urged
against this plan—the unjustifiable interference with
property, the direct tendency to an agrarian law, its
utter inconsistency with that which, in all things, assists,
promotes, and increases production—the division of la-
bour ; but I hope I have said enough. At all events, I
will not further intrude upon your space at present.—
I remain yours faithfully, RADNOR.
Oct. 25, 1944.

The following ri ^tices appeared yesterday at the Ge-
neral Post-office, St. Marthl s-le-Grand :—By command
of the Postmaster-General.—Noade to the Public, and
Instruction to all Postmasters.—Genera: Post-office,
Nov., 1844.—0 n and after the 6th instant, the following
offices will be opened for the issue and payment of money
orders :—Alford, Lincolnshire ; Berslem, Staffordshire;
Chesham. Buckinghamshire ; Cromer, Norfolk ; Fleet-
wood, Lancashire ' Hanley, Staffordshire ; Keighley,
Yorkshire • Lane End, Staffordshire ; Linton, Devon-
shire ; Malmesbury, Wiltshire ; Minehead, Somerset-
shire ; Redditch, Worcestershire •, Staley Bridge, Lanca-
j+ire ; Stoke; Staffordshire ; Todmorden, Lancashire ;
Weste7.ham, Kent. The next mails for Malta, Gece,
and the lonin Islands, via Southampton, will bree dis-
patched from hence on the morning of the 14th instant,
and for Egypt and India on the 3d December, The next
mails for India, 80., via Marseilles, will be dispatched
from hence on the 7th instant (last evening). The
Severn will take out the West India mails of the morning
of the 18th instant. Caledonia for the American mails
of the evening of 18th instant."
SUDDEN DISAPPEARANCE OF MR. HURST, M.P.—
Considerable excitement prevailed in this town (Hors-
ham) on Thursday last, on its being ascertained that
R. H. Hurst, Esq., our Member, had left with his family,
for France, having previously discharged all his ser-
vants. It has long been apparent to the tradesmen that
the honourable gentleman's circumstances wore much
embarrassed, but none were prepared for his leaving the
place on so short a notice. The household furniture and
farming stock, &c., are intended to be sold by auction.
Many of our tradesmen and others, we are concerned to
add, are sufferers, to the amount of several thousand
pounds.— We hear, from other sources, that Mr.
Hrst's liabilities exceed 150,0001., and that his son, Mr.
R.O Hurst, jun., has become responsible for his father's
debts to the extent of 80,000/. The estates acquired by
purchase by the late Mr. Robert Hurst are strictly en-
tailed, and Mr. Hurst and his son only take life interest
under the late Mr. Hurst's will.—En.]—Brighton
Guardian.
THE LATE STATE TRIALS.—.-THE QUEEN'S BENCH.
—lt is very currently rumoured, that an application will
be made, this day, at the sitting of the Court, in the
Queen's Bench, on behalf of the defendants in the late
State trials. The nature of the motion we understand
to be, that the recognisances of the gentlemen proceeded
against should be abated, and that they be discharged
from all further attendance upon the Court. ur
readers may not, perhaps, be aware, that upon t Ohe
occasion of the traversers in the late State trials
giving bail before the Hon. Justice Burton, in Oc-
tober, 1843, the condition entered into was, that they
should attend in the Queen's Bench, from Term to
Term, to answer any charge made against them by the
Crown. The result of the writ of error absolved those
gentlemen from the punishment adjudged by the Court
of Queen's Bench; and the nature of the application to
be made to-day is, that the obligatien to attend the
court should be voided, the accusations made :„gginst the
defendents having been pronounced by the highest
' authorities groundless and illegal. Application will also
be made to the Court, to have the judgment of reversal
by the House of Lords entered up,—Freeman's Journal
of Wednesday.