The Sun.
London, England, 1826-04-20 00:00:00

THE LONDON JOURNALS.

7LY EXTRACTS FROM THE MORNINCI PAPERS'
AVRIL 20, 1826. A

TIME&] • 1,
!We'clo not know that We can say any thing on the
Itim question that has not already been said. The
it4lie will have perceived, that the consideration of
posponed, or at least that all hopes of any
Topper enactment on the, subject must be deferred till
we have a new Parliament. There are those who
think that any thing like a free trade in corn is im-
passible, while such heavy taxes are to be paid ; and
then these who are of this opinion exaggerate greatly
the portion which the landed interest has to pay of
those taxes. But in a case such as has occurred at
Ilackbitra, (and we believe that Norwich and other
Manufacturing places are but little better,) suppose
the workmen are to be dispersed for want of employ-
uient, will not the same landed interest have to main-
tain such disbanded workmen out of the rates in their
respective parishes ? And would it not be much bet-
ter to keep them together at their labour, by allowing
them to eat their, bread at such a price as that they
can maintain their families ? In truth, where ma-
nufactures flourish, the landed interest generally con-
trives to make them contribute pretty largely to the
rates, obliging them even to pay through the medium
of. those rates no inconsiderable part of the agricul7
ttiral labourers' wanes, from whose labours the farmer
and land-owner derive all the advantage. If it be true,
in any degree, that the chief burden of all duties, na-
tional or Twochial, falls ultimately upon the land, it
iy only true when the manufactures have been destroy-
ed and the manufacturers dispersed ; and then the land,
not being able to fly or run away, becomes responsible
for the maintenance of the poor, which the exorbitant
claims of its possessors had made such. Surely, then,
it is worth the while of the land-owners to uphold the
manufacturing interest, by allowing it to have corn at
a reasonable price, in order that it may serve as a
shield, and bear the first brunt and assault of taxation.
We are sure that, without a free trade in corn, all
other attempts at establishing a free trade will prove
nugatory, or at least incomplete ; .and the truth of
this remark has been already verified. We were to"
have, to a certain degree, a free silk-trade ; French
was, in a manufactured state, being admissible on
paying a duty of 30 per, cent., whilst the raw material
might be imported for the looms.of, this country al-
Most duty free. But apprehension soon sprung up,
that the British 'manufacturer could not compete it
*ith the French, whilst the wages of our journeymen
bore a just ratio to the price of corn anti other pro-
provisions. Ministers yielded to the apprehension,
and have,, in a disingenuous and sneaking manner,
nullified the iinportation of French manufactured silks,
by enacting that they shall only be admitted into the
port of London, and, that in clumsy and inconvenient
packages.

If we may judg.i by the Irish newspapers, Govern-
ment have begun to consider worth attempting what
ought to have been accomplished many years ago—
namely, the enlistment of that inexhaustible ocean by.
-finch the coasts of Ireland are surrounded, among the
natural and best resources for the maintenance of .her
accumulating population. It is, we believe, A ross
fillacy to Arm, that the soil. of Ireland. could not
support a larger body of inhabitants than have ever yet
encumbered it. Th'e immense exports of corn and
cattle from the sister island, show that she_ produces
more of those necessaries of life than she consumes. It
would not, probably, be too much to say, that half the
quantity of Irish wheat, barley, and oats pro-
411ccd, go, directly to the sustenance or enjoyment of
wither. nation. It is not the soil, then, that fails, it is
the market for labour, the wages of industry, which
Would enable the poor peasant to buy some portion of
tAppeg9odtbings the earth, whose surface he exists
von, yields in abOndanee, and the want of which de-
gaud for labour condemns the wretched multitudef
when the stock of potatoes has been eaten up,, to fa-
dash in the Midst of a plenty, which rather torments
that), comforts t4cm. Under such circumstances, it
great importance that the means of procuring
food itself, where money proves to be absolutely un-
attainable, should by any process, and in any
:degree,
be extended. In many cases, the inhabitants of the
coast are the most destitute of the Irish people. The
land, near the shore is often poor and unproductive,
andits tenants are in such a state of misery, that we have
heard Of instances in which there was not to be found,
4plighout a district of several miles, capital enough
tqii pay 101. for a single fishing-boat . and tackle. It
seems obvious that, to a population so situated, any mea-
sure which enables them to supply, from a yet unbroken
a944.449und0,fi010, the wants of their dreadful con-
0, must be of a value :altogether inestimable ; and
ttlis,. the encouragement of the 'fisheries bids very.
fairly-to effect; inasmuch as, though a regular market
for the sale of fish might not be established in a parti-
Cl4hir 'neighbotAood, aft extensive barter of fish for"
poiatoes would ensue es a.matter of course—and thus
a mond article of food be brought into. general use,
adding .variety, as well es quantity, to the amount of
Onyin subsistence. The Lord Lieutenant, it appears,
just appointed Mr. Corry a Commissioner to the
:71shery Board. This gentleman has long discharged
the duties ,of Secretary to the Linen Board of Tread.
.:his new office has'-rio -emolument' annexed to 'it ; but
fruit the general character ascribed to Mr. Corry, it is
s4pliosecl that he will not neglect any means which
io4ligenee, activity, or humanity can suggest, for
rendering his appointment a serviceable one to the
poorer classes of his countrymen.--(lbid.)