The Sun.
London, England, 1817-10-14 00:00:00

CARLISLE CANAL MEETING.

,i7e regret that we had not before an oppottu-
I'll), of introducing the following account .of a
Neeting, highly interesting to Commerce, and ho-
nourable to the persons who have so laudably CX7
vrted themselves to accomplish the -important ob-
ject in view :

At a recent Public Meeting held in tilt Town
Hall, in, Carlisle, for the purtio:4e of
_fakir:l'ow°

"consideration " the propriety of cutting a Canal
between the City of Carlisle and the West Sea,"
he Right Hon. the Earl of-LONsDALt, Laird Lieu-
tenant of the -County, took the Chair. The
Meeting was most respectable, and so numerous,
that•the Town Hall scarcely sufficed to contain
all that were present.
The Carl of LONSDALE opened the business.
,An advertisement, he observed, had been publish-
ed, to calla meeting in :he Town that clay.;
but it was not ultitil he arrived in Carlisle that he
Inew ony thing of the object held in view, more
_than what was stated in the advertisement. Since
his arrival, ho:s ever, he bad-had some cornimuni-
. cation with seven!! Gentlemen, from whom he
learnt that it was the general wish of-almost all
classes of the 'inhabitants to have a Canal from
Carlisle to the Solway Frith.' Having been call-
ed on to take the Chair on this occasion by a, con-
sidetahle number of the most respectable manu-
facturers and merchants of the city, he had been
induced to do so even contrary to.hisinctinitions,
as he was convinced that there were Gentlemen
present more able, but. he would 'not say More
willing, to conduct the business than he was.
The-removal of that cloud of distress with which
our prospects were lately obscured—a cothicienee
in that Government which has led us successfully
and honourably through so many difficuities—;aud
a well-founded hope that a continuation of that
system will ensure the perfect restoration of both
foreign and domestic trade, of which we already
taste the benefits of the revival;-from this con.
.fidence, :theie expectations, arose the 'impulse
which called forth the spirit displayed on the pre-
sent occasion. His Lordship was unwilling to
take the situation which he then filled, because lie
was conscious of his inability tO state to the meet-
ing the advantages which might 'reasonably he
expected to flow from the measure ; but those
.-clefects• would happily be supplied by others who
were around him.,—and lie should not do justice
to his feelings were he not to express the high
sense he entertained of the 'Mein and industry
which had raised the trade and prosperity of Car-
lisle to their present honourable degree of
.eleva-
tion. He had no doubt ,that •the Gentlemen who
were instrumental in bringing forward the 'mea-
sure Would be 'capable of explaining every thing
to general satisfaction. In saying thus. much,
lirs Lordship apprehended he had said all that was
peccss..ry in the present stage of tire busine,s, and
be Hopei: those to whom he had alluded world
now deliver their sentiments.

Bir JANIE:-;.GCAIiAM, Bart. M.P. next rose. He
had not t.tkr'a • the Subject into consideration in a
Maater that enabled him to give the meeting any
pardeolar matron. • Last week a respectable
body of G,eitie,i,Fl called upon him to ask his
advice on this momentous question, and he recom-
oded to them to insert an advertisement in the
public papers, calling a meeting to be hAdea this
day, for he thoUght the time • of the races Most
appropriate. When Gentlemen wet e met on
saran e• pursuits, lie thought it likely that they
would - not bt unwilling to devote part Of their
attentioa to useful objects. He understood that
almost the whole -of the inhabitants-of Carlisle
were anxious to promote the measure,--and,
le had no= doubt; -"would come- ! handsomely
forward. With respect to the .benefits to be ex-
pected, little or no explanation was required on
that head, as they would be .appa'r'ent every
body. Reports relative to the Canal lied' been Matte-
ly engineers.; in 1795 by Mr.'Cbapman't-'which
report was revised in 1807. Nearlyevery•gefir le
wan present mutat have read -thebe reports,:and
have them in their possession, therefore Le would
not touch upon their contents. The present
meeting was called merely to enter into a -sub-
scriptiOn to pay the charge of a minute survey, in
order to ascertain the cost of a catiallat the least
possible expence. The most eligible- line :would.
be from New-town to Knock's Cross, and. when
once this should be accomplished, he had no
doubt, though he could not-expect to live to wit-
ness it, that .it would be extended towards the
east coast. This object it would he right- to
bold in view, but as he said before, the sole ob-
ject at present. was,to eonstructa 'canal bet meet)
Carlisle and Bowness or Knock's Cross.. By the
construction of such a canal, all bekvy articles
for Carlisle and the- neighbourhood -would be
brought at one half the present expence ; some
nartientors would be presently ditailed.-1 a- gen
tleman who had made the requisite enquiries.' He
bad in his pocket a set of resolutions,-which in dire
time he Would read,' and which he 'hoped would
meet with unanimous approbation, for he'felt
convinced thesubjeet.was of the first importance-1
to the city and neighbourhood of Carlisle. It
would-be proposed that subscriptions be opened,
and no sum- taken above five guineas, each per-
son so subscribing -to be a-Member.of the Com-
mittee, which would then be open to every bO4.
He wished also
.to suggest that all subscribdrs
former expenses ought to be considered as sub-
scribers to the present, the amount of such'sni=
scriptions to be calculated in the share's ; .for .eve'
should consider this • Meeting a continuation of
all former Meetings.
J. C. CURwEN, Esq. M.P. said it was with pe-
culiar satisfaction that be rose to give his warmest
support. to the measure; it was one to which he
bad for a Number of years been frimily, for he
ever
.144 d tr.:high opinion -of its advantages; It
-must be gratifying to all present, that the subject
should have been brought forward by. the coin,-
mercial interest.. Whatever difference might have
--heretofore existed between the land and commer-.
cnd interests, and however incompatible each
might think the prosperity of the other with its„
o.wn, he believed it was now universally admitted•
.that what contributed to the interest of the one,
would be sure to be of advantage to the :other.:
krcin st.;cti g quid, as was cingeoTtated 0n..,t1t4

'present oz:e.-I,icm the greatest benefits must neces-
sarily result. What plan shOuld be adopted, of
course could not be discussed to-day. That must
depend upon after considerations ; and it was
most desirable that not the least difference of opi-
nion should exist in the outset ; much depended
upon 'unanimity, fur whatever line the Canal
should take, it could not fail to prove a great and
fasting benefit, and there never was a Moment
more favourable for the execution of the project
than the present. Within the last, eight years
amazing improveMents had taken place in all
parts of this county. Eight years ago Cumber•
land -imported grain to the amount 01100,000 qrs.
annually..—Such was the difference in her siiiia-
lion, that she now exported twice .that quantity.
He had no doubt, should the Canal be brought
to a favourable completion, that Carlisle, would
become the great emporium of grain for this part
of the country, as he _took it for granted that a
branch %void(' he extended to Newcastle, dm;
opetrOitg the market to each side of the kingdom—
to I.4verpool, to London, and directly with the
Lialtic,.. Had there been such a communication
during-the late scarcity, it would have. made an
immense difference to this part of time country, for
it is. well-known that a peat quantity of grain
and flour had been brought hither by land cal-
ridge, "which (if rouge enhanced the prices very
considerably. This then alone was a great ob-
ject-, and would fully warrant the proceedin,,',; i
was -most important not only to Cumberland, but
to the country at large. 'lt was the interest of
the manufacturer that grain should. neither be too
high nor too low ; the grower should have a fair
remunerating price, for in see!) price each will
find a benefit. During the lake distress, it was
not so Much the falling off of the fOreign trade, as
a decrease in the home consumption, which bore
so heavy on the manufacturer ; and this pressure
on the home market arose from the great decrease
.of wages, by which the lahouring classes have
lost twenty millions of income, the whole of
which was of course withdrawn from the home-
market. This Canal- then, when completed,
‘voold.open a,communication that would regu-
tatethe supply, and insure More favourable prices..!

Mr. ,Joriti DLxoN said, that Sir James Graham,
in tire course of his Observ'atiOns, having stated
that atiO! her Gentleman would detail ,o the meet-
ing some information relative to the adrantoges
be expected from the measur, , he rose,for the pur-
post of communicating such information, which
he, had been desired to collect by the principal ma-
nufacturers and mercantile people ; and he would
premise by observing that Carlisle labours under
very great disadvantages in consequence of the
want of water ',carriage. The cotton trade alone
pays 10,0001. annhally tor land carriage, one-half
of which, at the lowest estimate, would be saved
were the proposed-canal carried into effect, and
thiS saving 0f.50001. tvOuld be most beneficially"
f& it in various ways, and particularly in the
crease of workmen's wages. He gave the follow-
ing statement :

Estimate of the Annual Tonnage upon the proposed Canal
from Knock's Cross.to C Aisle.
Imported as per the Cthtont house Books at Bow- con,
ness,l4,ooo
Exports (say 200 vessels annually) 6,000
Cotton Wocl 1500 tons; Cotton Yarn 2400 tons';
Goods for exportation 000; llye-Roods, Copperas, • •
&c. (these,' at present, are all c-onveyetl by laud- • •
carriage) - 14,000
West _lndia produce, &c. from, • .1;000
Co,ls (or about 60 tons per diem)
10,000
Slate (bronght at present 30 miles by lam') 15,600
Grain liQccasioually much more) , 2,000
Potatties (also liable to increase)
Stofre .(which might he brought from Maryport,
Wititelfaren, &c. to a greatiextent at hall' the pre-
sent expence; now carted at Os. per ton: In conl
sequenCe, a great increase in the consumption may
he confidently anticipated) 5,000
Hemp and Flax SOO
_ . . . . .

Linens.from Ireland to various places in this neigh-
hourhood.. BOO

Provisions from Ireland
200

70,000
These 70,000 tons, it is calculated, would pro
duce to the shareholders an annual revenue of
7,875/. And this revenue would, of course, be
considerably increased when the Canal should be
extended across the island to Newcastle.—ln
1807, a Canal from Carlisle to the \Vest Sea was
estimated to produce 8,8:54 Per annum. Trade
of all kinds since that period has much increased,
and increasing ;so that the tibove estimate is
made from dita•which cannot Prove deceptive.
Sir. JAMES GRAHAM said, it. appeared .to him
that every thing had been said which the present
stage of the 'business required ; he should there-
fore now propose the Resolutions which he had
before adverted to. 'The lion. flarotiet then pro-
posed the,first six Resolutions in succeiSion, which
were seconded by Mr. Curwen, and were carried
unanimoudY.—:They recommend the emplornent
of ,
eniiineees to consider and revise the
former Surveys and reports ; and 'to open -a sub_
scription to defray theexpence of such revisions
and reports.
The seventh Resolution was, proposed byAlr.
CorWeit,—und carried with similar marks of ap-
probation. It was a-vote of thanks to the Gen-
Who tailed the Meeting, and brought foe.-
wara the important subject,'
'lime Earl of Lop:;SDALe Said,he hoped be should
he'pardonel for the few observations which be,
ne:deisaly to make, as he was unwilling
tna: an'j advantages should be attributed to a
Canal Which did not strictly belong to it. The
Hon:,"Meinher for Carlisle, Mr.. Curwen, had laid
gredt stress mi the general benfit which
,might
b V.ltnected to firm from Carlisle. being made an,
erqo'ritarra for giain. Flow that was to influence .
-the prices of grain generally be wits at a loss, to
comprehend. He said this with no view to 'de-
- .
preciate the advantages of a Canal, which, no
dotibt, were many and solid, but he did not think
it right or politic to bold out that as an advan-
tage, which, to him at least,, had .little tounda7
tion.

Cuats'Ers; was much obliged to the Noble
Lord tor giving him an opportunity'' of more fully
explaining his meaning. Ile did not Mean to
Say, that the influence of such a Canal' in fespect
to grain woufi be felt over' the kingdom at large.,
hut in this particular part of it. He:agreed. fully
With the Noble Lord, that beyond this, part of
the lOuplom its influence could not 'W 'felt, and
in iiVMSC only he meant to expreisliiins-elf.—
Aud §urely in this view. the
_measure was. most,
iniportaat. During tea's

Well known that much. grain -had been, brought
hither over-land, -which would have come to the
market cheaper bad a Canal existed. By this
measure, in times of plenty, a market would be
opened ; in times of scarcity, there would be the
means of a ready supply.
The-Earl of LONSDALR said, if he had understood
Mr. Curwen at first as he now did, .he would not
have troubled the Meeting with the observations
which had fallen frOth him.
- Mr. CuRwRN said, nothing court! be more
proper,—and he had since learnt from a friend
beside him, that every stone of grain brought hi-
ther from Newcastle by land-carriage cost 4d.—
This would place his meaning. in
,a clear point of
view, and show the importance of, water carriage.
Sir J. GRAHAM hoped that we should never
again be impotters, but always exporters.—(Ap-
plause.)
His Lordship having left the chair,
Mr. cUlti%'EN said it was highly gratifying to
his feelings to bear testimony to the able and
bet al manner in which the business of the Meet-
ing had been conducted by the Noble Chairman,
It must be highly pleasing :o every one
,to spe
Nobleman. of the wealth and power which he pos-
sessed-with the means of being able to do so
much for the city of Catlisle and the county of
large—come forward and give his sanction to a
measure which could not fail of proving highly
beneficial to the whole county as well as to him-
Self, and which under his influence must proceed
to a happy termination. He begged leave to move
the hea-rty tiptoks of this Meeting to the Rigift,
Hon. the Earl of Lonsdale for taking the chair,:
and tor the manner in which. he hid conducted the
business of the day, tyllitda yefs seconded by. T.
Hailley, Esq Wtritehaxen, and carried. with
loud aild universal apphatse.
Hip Lordship returned 'thanks for, the honour
that had he, n done him.

Only one feeling seemed to pervade the numerous
assemblage, ap, each of. the Speakers received the
most gratifying applause. A great number of
G ntlemen immediately subscr4 bed the required
five guineas each, and the survey will be speedily
carried into execution. The manner of forming
the" Committee is moit unexceptionable, as it
admits any one who is incligetl to support the
nieasure.

NEWGATE AND LEADENHALL 'MARKETS.
By the Carcase.
Beef 2s. Bd to 3s G(4 I Veal 3s Od to 4s 89:1
Mutton ... 3s Od to <ts 10h; I Pork • 4s 4d to 5s 134

Lamb, 3s

Od to 4s 4tt