The Sun.
London, England, 1826-08-25 00:00:00

SPIRIT -OF TIIE PUBLIC JOURNALS.

IVII- urging upon Ministers, in the nmes of yester-
day, the manifest expediency of drawing food into this
kingdoin by al4 the means which their powers as ape-
*eminent afforded to them, we used, through inadvertency,
an exwession which would imply that the grain, of the
averages on which we had ,been speaking, namely, oats,
was equally with wheat comprehended within the law of
last session for enabling Ministers to admit foreign corn
in a limited quantity, and at or under a certain duty.
This is not the case; the discretion then given to Govern-
ment had reference to wheat exelnsiVely, the amount of
which, importable by that measure, was net to exceed
500,000 quarters. . If there are persons disposed to ques-
tion the utility of importing wheat alone, while other and
inferior descriptior,s'of rain were more immediately ap-
plicable to th,-, Wants, bong more directly within the reach,
the PrArest among the people of Great Britain, we
need lout Mention it as an obvions and acknowledged fact,
that art increased supply, and therefore a diminished price,
of tiny one article of hurnan sustenance, has an infallible
tendency to reduce the cost of every other. In estimating
the expense of feeding cattle, every plough-boy knows
that a few seasonable showers, contributing to the- im-
provement of a scanty growth of hay, will speedily lower
the market prices of oats; and the same rule holds in the
relative operation of wheat, and oats, and barley, and /my
tatoes on each other. The misery .of the present. season,
especikily for the poor Scotch and Irish, is, that all the
crops; except wheat alone, have suffered. It would be,
therefore,in aggravated, anti, what is worse, a wilful
if, by the coldness or timidity of Ministers, the country
were not enabled to enjoy, to the fullest extent,' that qua-
titled indemnification which Providence has granted us iu
in abundant wheat harVest, for the loss of every other.---
The stock of native wheat ought surely to be reinforced
by the most liberal policy which Parliament recognizes,
and Government ought at once to act upon the privilege
conceded to them at their own request, of preferring the
lives of the poor to the wealth and favour of the aristo-
cracy. But Ministers will not diicharge their duty to
the utmost, by incurring no higher responsibility than
that imposed upon them through the Bill of last ses-
sion. There is no grain produced out of the earth
Which ought not, in the condition and with the pro-
pests which. await us, to be eagerly introduced into
England. Although the law, therefore, in its short-
sighted prudence, contemplated, two or three months
ago, a failure only of the wheat crop, and made ac-
cordingly an hesitating and penurious provision, by
'.authorising an importation ;of 500,000 quarters ; nature
willed it otherwise, and a suffering people cry aloud for
relief, to an extent which no Parliamentary measure re-
commended by Government is at all equal to furnish. We,
therefore, implore the King% Ministers to bring forward
a bolder and more comprehensive discretion—that which
is inherent in all ruling powers .where constituted autho-
rity of any kind is acknowledged; and which is both re-
cognised in principle and in its mode of action by the
State of which they and we are members. By an Order
hi Council, the Ministers are themselves aware, that it is
lawful, for them to O or shut the ports subject to the
after approbation of Parliament, which undoubtedly, where
the sales populi is at stake, will never withhold .101 indeM-
nity. That there is a difficulty asserted, we are not igno-
rant; but it is one for which the present time seems pe-
culiarly ill adapted—namely, that GovernMent, although
authorized to admit grain by Order in Council, are not
competent to impose a tax upon its introduction, and
therefore dread the anger of the country gentlemen for
importing-freely whet they dare 'not incumber by 'an un-
litwful duty. Men see matters, even the most importaia,
in strangely opposite points olview, or really we should
wonder. that. Ministers do not exult in the opportunity
.of
feeding the nation at a time of wretchedness approaching
to famine, with corn, in the price of which no legislative
quackery has' interfered. It', for a beginning, the whole
stock now bonded were let loose at once upon the mar-
'kat, we should like to ask, what possible bane could re.,
stilt from it to the most inveterate bolder ? On the 31st
of July, 1520, the quantities under bond were— .
Wheat. Barley. Oats. Beans and Peas
qrs. era. qrs. a mere trifle.
• 97,560 878 112,790
Since added... 21,561 760 20,427

119,111 1,688 189,217

Thus we find, by unquestionable returns, that the whole
amount'of theso three description* of grain at*wilt
undex the King's custody does not exceed 260,000 guars
tem! just half as much as Ministers begged on behallot
their countrymen, threatened even then with a probable
scarcity of food. We have no end to answer by. these
few observations, but. to make it plain to Government.
that should take the- manly part, it will not be deed-
tute of hearty and zealous supporters. The people,
through no fault of theirs, are in actual want of bread,
and it is no less then misprision of murder to say that
they shall not have h.—Times.
Next time the House of Commons institutes an inquiry
ass t ,
tue subject of emigration, we nope that a different plan
will be purpled from that adopted by the late,Commission.
Instead, of examining only Magistrates or professiornd
men, or rich landholders, let them send to Canada, the
Cape of Good Hope, Van Diemen's Land, New Smith
Wales, in any other,country, where English colonists have
settled,Hfor some- of the middling and lower classes, and
ascertain their sentiments on the peculiar advantages,or
disadvantages of any particular colony. Ministers deserve
great credit for this inquiry, and for the evidence pro-
duced on many topics connected with the subject ; but we
could have wished that they had- gone a little further,: and
-adopted a course somewhat like that recommended. The
evidence of large proprietors only is of little or no use in
ascertaining the real condition of the great body of the
settlers. Sir 'Rends Biudett would just be as good
evidence art the domeatic economy of one of his poorest
tenants, or of a day.labourer, as some of the witnesses
examined could be on the comforts or hardships of settlers
in some of our colonies. No information could equal that
from the settlers themselves. If the evidence of some. of
those men who left this country in desperate circum-
stances, of those who have' succeeded, and those who
have not succeeded, as well as the evidence of their wives
relative to their household economy were taken, we should
haves mass of information which would enable us to
form a correct estitnate of these countries. If the evidence
ae applied t,o any particular colony were unfavourable, it
would tend to prevent emigration to that quarter. If, on
the other hand, it were favourable, great numbers of the
middling and:lower classes in Great Britain and Ireland
would most probably resort to it. Sertrants out of place,
as well as those in place who had saved a little money,
and who looked forward to independence in their old age,
perions'of small ineomes from MIL to 100/. a-year, who can
scarcely eke out existence here, those that possess a few
acres of land hardly sufficient to support them and their
fainilies, and probably n great number of other descrip,,
tions of 'persons would Set out for Canada or Van Diemen's
Land if the evidence was such as to satisfy, them: At
present the people 'of England are quite, ignorant of the
reel situation of those countries. One traveller gives one
account, aniithet an account diametrically opposite. One
settler writetto.his friends in this country that the land is
quite Itradisif4o, world writes that he has met with
nothing. but flifiaOnipttrient and misery, and hail been de.
'ceived rn every iniitkilee,, If such men were, examined
4Rd "cross-examined Wore a Committee, we shoilld soon
learp the real state oreti4‘,,,„l„,iy, and if in any. "tanee
their evi4ence were satisfactory- there cannot be the P°447,
bility of a doubt that great numbers would soon flock to
such a colony,;,,and that if GoVernMent were to advertise
lands for sale at a cheap rate, or large farms at a very low
rout they would soon find them
,orttipied.. This would
he of great advantage to England; for, besides riddintrber
of a superahundant population, it would create a. new mar-
ket for the manufactures trine productions of the country.
Emigtants catty with thclo the manners, the customs, and
wants of The ttaithei coontry ; those from Great Britain,
consequently, would wish to dress in British manufae-