The Sun.
London, England, 1826-04-28 00:00:00

c',// c)

N UMBER 10,493.

T, a MEETING of the Friends to Mr. Alder-
man WOOD, M.P. held at the Paul's head, Cateaton-
ittreet, on WEDNESDAY, April 26, 1820.
WILLIAM SMITH, Esq. M.P. in the Chair,
It was moved by JOHN MABERLY, Esq. M.P., and se;
conded by RICHARD SHARPE, Esq.., and
Unanimously Resolved,
That this Meeting are convinced that at all times, and espe.
cially in the present state of Commercial and Public Affairs,
it is,expedient that the Representatives of the City of London
in Parliament should be Citizens of unblemished character—.
conversant with the Rights of the Corporation and disposed to
Maintain them—possessing local information, as well as com-
mercial experience—and undoubted in attachment to Freedom,
Economy, and Reform.
That the commercial knowledge, personal character, and pub•
lic conduct of Mr. Alderman Wood, prove his possession of
the qualifications required—and that his benevolent and un-
wearied efforts to effect local improvements—to promote the edtt-
tatimi of the poor, and mitigate distress—to extend the circula-
tion of the Scriptures—to lessen the aggregate of individual and
bocial calamity—entitle him to the approbation of all philan-
thropic and enlightened men,
That his claims to respect are thereased bythe indefatigable,
'ltseful, and liberal manner in which he has long and habitual.
17 acted as a Member of the Corporation—and in which he ful-
filled the duties of Sheriff, Alderman, and Lord Mayor—by
his intimate knowledge of the interests of the Corporation—and
fits able, persevering, and resolute attention to their ancient and
imEortant rights.
'!'hat, as the Parliamentary Representative of the City in
Four Parliaments, his general conduct has equalled all the ex-
pectations of his friends, and entitles him to praise and sup-
Port. That his true loyalty, his love of liberty, his resistance
to inordinate taxation, and every needless expence—his acces-
sibility to his Constituents—his punctual attendance—his intle-
Pendent though conciliatory spirit—and his co-operation in
every attempt to promote Public Improvement, justify the con-
fidence he has so long enjoyed, and deserve not only unabated
kindness, but even augmented regard.
That this Meeting therefore earnestly desires the re-election
of Mr. Alderman Wood, on the dissolution of Parliament,
that they will form a general Committee, with power to add to
their number, to canvass the Livery on his behalf, and that
they respectfully intreat from their fellow Citizens the favour
of their co-operation and local influence, as well as any useful
information that can be supplied, and addressed to John Pul-
len, Esq. Deputy, at the Baptist Head, Aldermanbury, and
which may assist their labours, and promote success.
WILLIAM SMITH, Chairman.

The Chairman having vacated the Chair, and the same being
Men by John Maberly, Esq. ALP., it was proposed by John
Martin, Esq. M.P., and seconded by Richard Sanderson, Esq.
and resolved unanimously,
That this meeting cheerfully express their thanks to William
Smith, Esq. M.P., their respected and excellent Fellow Citi-
zen, who has presided on this occasion, and whose private di-
. meter and public conduct increase their gratitude for his at-
tendance at the meeting, and their pleasure at his continued
po
suprt.
T() THE WORTHY AND 'INDEPENDENT LIVERY
OF LONDON.

GENTLEMEN,
Encouraged by the Resolutions of a numerous and respect-
able Meeting of my Friends, and by universal expressions of
kindness and good will, I again, and for the Nerd) tune, re-
spectfully offer myself as a Candidate at the approaching Elec-
tion for the honour of Representing this City in Parliament.
As you have so long and often distinguished me by your favour
it -cannot be needful that I should make any profession of my
Principles, or occupy your attention by many promises, as to
the conduct I intend to pursue. It is my pleasure and my
"pride that, during the long period I have been dignified by
Your confidence, I have never given a vote that could increase
the burdens or diminish the Freedom or Glory of our Native
Land, The same true Loyalty—the same love to the sacred
principles of Liberty, the same attachment to your Corporate
ights, the same solicitude for our Commercial Prosperity, and
the welfare of every class of the Community, and the same ac-
tivity of exertion, and independence of mind, which I have
hitherto manifotted, I shall with unabated ardour, through my
life, continue to evince. Allow me, therefore, to hope tin. your
persevering attachment, and to entreat that you will cheer and
ho lour me with that general and continued support, which I
.have endeavoured to merit, and shall ever rejoice to obtain, and
believe me to remain,

Gentlemen,
Your faithful, obliged, and devoted. Servant,
MATTHEW WOOD.
77, South Audley-street, April 28, 1028.

FRIDAY EVENING, APRIL 28, 1826.

FOREIGN CORN.

INSTRUCTIONS TO MR. JACOB, RESPECTING lIIE
PRICES OF FOREIGN CORN.

[Continued from our paper of yesterday.l
Accounts of the quantities of corn in .store at Memel could
not be procured ; and in the absence of better means of form-
ing an opinion, I have compared the trade of exporting corn
at Memel with that at Elbing, and find that in a series of years
the exports of wheat and rye together, frOm the latter port, have
been about double that at the former. I scarcely know if it be
fair to infer that the accumulated stack bears the same propor-
tion to the annual returns. •If so, the stock on hand must be
but small.

I can only judge of the
..,stocks accumulated in Riga and Pe-
tersburgh by comparing their trade in wheat, for a series of years,
with that of Dantzie and Elbing. The exports have not been
larger than those of Elbing, and it is prObable their stocks to-
gether do not exceed those of that port. In the absence of all
definite information, and trusting to ths..,. reports I. received, I
should be disposed to think, that in ttie see ports, of Memel,
Riga, and Petershurgh, there were not ICki,ooo quarters of wlelt,
in August, when I was at Dautzic.

The state of the stock of corn at Lubeck, with the prices for
.the last eleven years, are shown in the Appendix, No. 83. It
appears that the wheat in stote there was 29,900 quarters.
. Some small stocks may have been collected f►om the territo-
ries of the Duke of Mecklenburg Schwerin, and accumulated in
the ports of Rostock and Wismar. .1 have no information of the
quantity, but sho►►ld not be dispos►d to judge from the general
trade of those places, that more than a few thousand quarte.rs
Were to be found in them. The greater part of the surplus corn
of Mecklenburg finds a vent by Hamburgh, and is included in the
imports, from the interior, of that city. The acc►ss to the
Elhc from all the southern ports of the duchy is easier than to
the Baltic ; the freight, from thence to foreign markets is lower,
and the passage shorter. It Is, in fact, only front' the northern
division of the duchy that the wheat Snag a vent through its ow►►
ports.. . _ _

- Although not within the Baltic, nor within the limits of my
late journey, yet the wheat which descends by the rivers Wesef
and Elbe have too much influence on the general corn trade to be
overlooked in this estimate of the stocks on hand.

The whe:4 stored at Bremen comes by the Weser, chiefly
out of the duchy of Brunswick, though some of it is grown in
Hanover; and when the prices are very high, supplies are con-
veyed from Hesse Cassel, and even • froM some of the western
districts of the Saxon duchies through Mundell. That from
Brunswick is of a moderate quality, but much of the other is very
bad , and only fit for the English market in times of very great scarcity.
The stock in the granaries at .Bremen, in the latter eud of De-
cember last, consisted of 27,972 quarters. of wheat and other corn,
as is shown in the Appendix No. 34.
Hamburgh. is an important depot for corn, of some that is
brought from Russian and other ports in .the Baltic, as well as for
the surplus of the teveral countries through which the Elbe in its
long course is directed. Prussia, especially near Magdeburg, is a
great corn country ; but thechief grain cultivated in that division
is rye. In the kingdom of Saxony, as well as in the Prussian pro-
vince of that flame, the quantity of rye very far exceeds the wheat,
both in quality and quantity. -In the years when prices are very
high, the wheat of Bohemia comes down the river to Hamburgh;
but the expellee of conveyance, the length of the navigation, and
the loss to which it is subject, act as a prohibition; except in seasons
of great scarcity. The freight from Prague to Hamburg is 12s.
per quarter, and the tolls to the several sovereigns, through whose
dominions the river runs, is 3s. .6d. The commissions and other
1 •
charges amount to near Is. Cid. more.,

From the shipping places below the Prazue the freight is lower;
but the wheat grown near them is - said not to he of so good a
quality as that from the vicinity of that city, and the di3tricts to
the south of it.

The export trade in wheat of Hamburgh by sea, appears during
the last ten years 14) have reached an annual average of 48,268
' quarters ; the greater part of the corn imported there being for
the Consumption of the city and the surrounding territory belong-
ing to it. In the Appendix. No. 31, is seen the course of the
trade, the prices of all corn for the last 10 years, the prices of wheat
from 1791 to 1822, and the stock about 100,000 quarters, as
taken at the two periods in the last year.
Although the price of wheat as well us other grain, is very low
in Denmark, yet the surplus quantity is very small; and the de-
pressed prices may he in a great measure attributed to the restric-
tions upon Danish corn in the dominions of Prussia, its nearest
and most popular neighbour. The wheat exported from the
whole kingdom, in, the six months which followed the abundant
harvest of 1824, is 'seen in the Appendix,. No. 35, to have been
117,561 quarters. By that account it appears that More than half the
the wheat was front the provinces of Holstein and Sleswick, which
are in close contact with Hambrirgh. In the market return of
prices from that city, the wheat of Holstein forms one of the
quotations ; it is then fair to conclude, that a portion of the wheat
exported from Holstein, if not from Sleswick, is that which nib-
Siequently becomes a part of that which is included in the exports
and stock of Hamburgh. I should much doubt if the whole
quantity of wheat in store in October last, in the kingdom of Den-
mark, amounted to 20,000 quarters.
.These are the returns of the several places mentioned in the
months of August and September, before the corn of the last
harvest had made its appearance in the markets. -1 had reason,
from all my inquiries, both among Cultivators and merchants,
to conclude that very little corn remained in the hands of the
growers, except in the very rare cases, where in the same person
was united a confident expectation of •an advance in the prices
with a. sufficiency of capital to enable hiM to withhold from mak-
ing sales.

-The circumstances of far the greater number of the occupiers
of land were too much embarrassed to allow 'of their keeping
.corn, When the importunities of claimants upon them were ur-
gent for the discharge of their deinands. The general accounts
were, that all which could be sold hail, from necessity, been
turned into money. In some of the small
tOWII9 in Prussia,
when movements of the troops were making, and a squadron
of cavalry on a march was quartered on them for a day, so
little horse corn was to be found in the granaries, that the stand-
ing oats were cut and given to the horses, as they were taken
.from the fields.

When in Berlin, I was told by Baron Von Bulow, Minister
of the Interior, that the Government had recently instituted in-
quiries into the stocks of corn in the country, and the result of
those inquiries showed, that the quantity in the whole of Prussia
was much smaller than usual.

A very intelligent writer, a part of whose memoir, see Appen-
dix, No. 9, I have translated, states the whole quantity of corn
in the different counties of Europe, at 3,680,000 quarters. Ile
includes in his estimate rye, oats, and barley, as well as wheat,
noticing the portions of each, which make up his total. With-
out attaching any great credit to the calculation, I allude to it
because his views are those which I found commonly entertained
among the more intelligent cultivators, of whom, though writing
anonymously, he was said to be one.

I made it my particular business to inquire into the state of
the stocks at the warehouses on the banks of the Vistula, where
corn is collected, until a auffieiency of one quality is accumu-
lated to load a veriel. In former tittles, as I was informed, these
Mores used to have a large quantity placed in them when the wa-
ter was low, to be:reatly to take advantage of the first autumnal rain.s
The water was low when I wail in Poland, front the long
drought end great heat of the season ; few or no vessels were na-
vigating on the upper part of the river, and yet the store-houses
on the banks were empty.
At Warsaw there are large warehouses, but in them there were
not 200 quarters of wheat.
At Pulaway is a large machine, capable of storing, and adapted
for keeping in good order, 6,000 quarter* of Wheat ; but it did
not contain a single bushel.
At Gassimir there are several large warehouses, some of them
from having had no business of any extent during the last four
years, seemed to be in need of repairs. Others were, however,
in good condition. The whole are capable of storing 60,000
quarters of corn. _ _

In none of them was any wheat, though they contained rye
belonging to the Government, which its agents had received for
rentßa andgho wtaxesku, fromwar cultivators
tor vators whogto
rtacog 14,000 quarters, but inald not imy money.

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. e 4.ca1f4,•1? •' , ,t• ,
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11111341..*.
,1! '0" 000 OaTti

them Was neither wheat riot any other corn to be found. At
Cracow the case was the same; the warehouses which are exten-
sive were empty. The places I have noticed are the chief, where
there are ferries over the river, and to -which the roads front the
surrounding districts lead. They are the most convenient for
shipping goods, and most of the trade is dispatched from them.
There are a few others of smaller moment, which I did not visit,
and only, on hearsay, know that they are alike without wheat.
From the view I have thus taken, lam led to the conviction
that neither in the sea ports, front which wheat is usually ship-
ped, nor in the interior of the countries where it is grown, was
there a stock which, if removed to the sea ports, would increase
the amount of what is collected there to any sensible extent
There is an accumulation in the Russian provinces of Podolia
and Volhynia, which was reported to me to have been stored in
caves under ground, containing four or five years' growth.
Owing to the situation of these provinces and the difficulties
and expences of conveyance, it is more likely to perish in the de-
pots than to be conveyed to any places front which it can inter-
fere with the trade of this country. The cost of conveying it to
Dantzie would he equal to the price for which it would sell,
and the shorter but more hazardous distance to Odessa would lead
to a nutrket there, lower than even that of Dautzie.
The produce of these two provinces wa4 never large, and luet
only found its way to the sea-shore when very high prices have
enabled it to' hear the expenee and risk of conveying it thither.
The whole stock of wheat may be now brought into one point;
and appar as follows :

Pomerania • 67,103 Quartets.
Dantsie and Ming 361,500
Lubeck . . 29,900

Conjectural:

Denmark . .
•Rostock and Wismar

458,503

25,000
25,000

Petersburg!), Riga, and Memel 100,000

In ports in the North Sen, as ascertained
Hainburgh
Bremen

Total

609,503

105,000
27,970

741,473 Quarters.

Of the wheat to which we have referred, as accumulated in
the several ports, I was assured nearly one-fourth part is of so had
a quality, as to find no market in this country, except in seasons
of uncommon dearth. If, then, out of the whole 741,413 quar-
ters, 556,330 quarters were to be sent to England, it would not
be more than the consumption of tea days.

The provinces, forming since the adjustment of territory, at the
termination of the late war, a part of the Prussian Monarchy,
which have access to the Baltic sea, comprehend. East Prussia,
West Prussia, and Pomerania. They appear by the' official ac-
counts (see Appendix, No. 10), to have exported 447,188 quar-
ters of wheat, and 1,218,916 quarters of rye, barley, and oats,
beyond their own growth, In the last nine years, up to the end of
1824 ; exclusive of the year 1818, the returns of which,
for East Prussia, are wanting, but which probably were
350,000 quarters of Wheat, and 800,000 quarters of the other
grains.

It is 'possible that some portion of this quantity may have been
produced in the internal contiguous provinces of Posen, Silesia,
and Brandenburg. As the trade in corn, between one province
and another is free in Prussia, there are no official accounts by
which we can ascertain whether what is exported by sea is the
produce of the province from which it is shipped, or of some in-
land district.

As the special object of attention pointed out by myltistruc-
tions, was the state of the countries front which corn had been ex-
ported to Englaud, I shall„therefore, in representing the state of
the agriculture, confute 'icy observations chiefly to the three mari-
time provinces before mentioned, but including in souse degree the
province of Brandenburg.
Before the year 1801, the landed estates in Prussia, as in most
other parts of Europe, were in the possession of large proprietors.
Many of them could only be held by such us were of noble birth .;
and the merchant, the manufacture•, or the artisan, however much
money he might have accumulated, could not invest it in such
land until he had obtained a patent of nobility. These restric-
tions were removed by the King, about the year 1807, when the
French had over-run the country.
A tenantry in our sense of the term was then, as it still is, al-
moat unknown. The land was worked by a elas of persons in
some respects slaves, and in most respects but little removed from
that condition. In many cases they had an hereditary kind of
.right to some use of the land, such as to grow one crop of corn
according to a prescribed course, whilst the lord had the right of
pasture between the crops. These peasants were sold with the
land, or descended to the heir, and were bound to perform certain
labour or services for the lord. They could not, on the other
hand, be dismissed from their holdings, nor had their superior
any power over the property they might happen to be able to ac-
cumulate. •

The conditions upon which the peasant* held their portions of
land were very various, some having a greater, and others a less
share of the use of them; some doing greater and others less ser-
vice for them.

By a series of legislative measures, marked by a character of
peculiar boldness, which were enacted from 1807 to 1811, the
whole of the enslaved peasants have become converted into free-
men and freeholders. In some cases the holdings have been
equally divided, and the peasant Las his moiety in perpetuity. In
cases where the lords claim for personal services were more exten-
sive, the peasant had a smaller share in the land. In Some in-
stances, compensations in money were settled by compact between
the lords and the peasants, sometimes by the payinent of a fixed
sum, or by a security on the land allotted in perpetuity to the
peasant, for the payment of such stnn. Sometimes the peasant
retained the whole of the land he had before used, paying .to the
lord the value of that portion which might othe►wise have been
given up to him.

The iiuccessive measures by which the peasants were raised to
the rank of freemen were not received by all with equal readiness.
The lords were compelled, but the peasants were allowed to de-
cline compliance; anti even to the present day some few prefer the
ancient mode of their holdings to that which the laws have al-
lowed.

Although the foundation is laid for a new and better order of
things:, yet its effeets on the agriculture of the country have not
hitherto been fully realized. The abolition of personal services,
and of beteditary ownership of such services, has been too regent
for the full operation of the change of the parties, from the rela-
tion of master and slave, to that of employer and employed, to pro-
duct- the effect which is its natural tendency. It is obvious, that
all the operations of agriculture are still performed by thelabourera,
with the listlessness and slovenly indolence which was natural to
their former character, and which their new condithwt hay not yet
had time to remove.

Tho land in the three maritime provinces, as indeed in altresit
the whole of Prussia, may be considered as either in very
large, portions belonging to the nobility, or to the new class of pro-
prietors; or as very small portions. such ua under the ancient
system wee deemed sufficient for half the maintenance of the fa-
mily of a peasant. There are but very kW of that middle class
of capitalists, resembling our fanners, who can hire land to that
extent, which mitt able man can most advantageously manage,
and after-stocking and working it, pay for the hire to the pro-
prietor.

With some few ettetptions, and those very few, no rent it
paid, but each occupier, whether a Loge or small one, is Ws
own landlord.

The deviations from this general view are to be found, for the
most part, on the hanks of the great rivers, where meadows,
supplyeithe of large to
fortheg purpose
near6fr the 4tei'll:ig cattle, or of saving hay for the
mouths of these rivers, are let to
temints for money rents. On the banks of the Oder, near Stettin,
I stiw BMW meadows let at Itts. to 11. s. per acre, the landlords
paying the land-tax. They are said to yield about one ton and a
half annually of hay, when mowed. The after-feed is worth little,
from the early floods in autumn, and the deep snows and severe
frosts hi winter.
The hay is not very good,
which is attributed
to the great quickness of the growth, after the frosts disappear.
Land of this description is of less r latiye value than with us, from
the sc..vere cold and its long duratioli, from therebeing scarcely any