The Sun.
London, England, 1821-05-12 00:00:00

the Ministth of the Crown has distinctly disclaimed all intent
tion of resorting to the dishonest expedient, there are found in
all 'companies persons who maintain, that to. it we.must come
at last.

It is, to a certain degree disreputable to us that such a mea-'
sure should be even talked of; but we are quite satisfied that
there is no danger of its adoption. The. Minister who should
propose it, would deserve to be impeached as a public robber,
and the Nation which could approve of bankruptcy as an ex-
pedient, would deserve to be overtaken by it as a calamity j
but, before such breach of faith can be contemplated,. it, must
be fairly tried whether the property of the-country,sidirch is un-
questionably pledged for the public debt, cannot be made to
discharge its engagements ; and to • decide this question, we
need only recollect, that it is now free from direct taxation, and
that income alone haS contributed, without much apparent in-
'convenience to individuals, ten per cent. 'We do not think it
will be necessary to call for any such contribution,. but, until
it has been resorted to, and to a far greater extent than we have
hitherto seen, it would be.downright fraud .to touch the pro-
, perty of the public creditor.
The present distress is the consequence of former errors in
the mode of attempting to protect British AgricUlture ; and of
the indiscreet and premature alteration in our monetary system;
the latter measure in
.particular being demanded by the united
voices of a large majority of the nation. That majority was
(as often) in error ; and, at generally happens, those who were
loudest in their outcry apinst rag-money, and the Borough-
mongeks' Bank, are now the most vehement in their complaints
of the alteration which, so far as their influence could go, they
may be said to have produced themselves. We are, however,
happy to repeat, that a gradual improvement in our situation is
in progress. There is not an industrious operative manufacturer
unemployed in the North of England or Scotland, and we hear
of none in our own neighbourhood ; and although the Manufac-
turers depend more upon the Farmers than the Farmers upon
them, yet the increased consumption consequent upon full em-
ployment and fair wages will a little be felt, and we have shewn
that whatever the Agriculturists may have suffered hitherto by
the competition of untaxed Foreign Corn, the alteration in the
value of money since the Corn Bill was passed, must effectually
protect them for the future ; and, if so protected, corn must
eventually bear a remunerating price, unless much more is pro-
duced than the consumption of the country requires.
There is perhaps more danger of this than of our wanting
foreign supplies ; but as, on the average of several years, there
has been a considerable importation, which has found its way
into consumption at last, we are not apprehensive on this head.
For the rest, so long as the cultivation of the land yields any
profit at all, the landlords and tenants may settle the division of
it among themselves. The average rental of England is reduc-
ed, perhaps, fully in proportion to the sacrifices made by the
possessors of other property ; but there are districts where the
land is gond and the necessary investment of farming capital
considerable, in which the landlords have here paid chiefly out
of that capital, instead of receiving a part of the acquired profit.
This also is the case in Scotland, where rents of -.C5 and £0
per acre are yet known, and of £3 and £4 not very uncommon.
This, allowing even for the unquestionable superiority of the
land to the average of England, is too high ; but the Farmers
have saved money, and the Lairds have not, and the leases be-
ing long (usually 19 years on good land, which is only three
successions of crops), the former are held to their covenants.—
This, however, is in daily course of amendment, although the
alteration requires more time than in England, where, 'fortu-
nately for the Farmer, many of our great Proprietors do not
grant leases at all, and seven years is not an uncommon term.
But, speaking of the kingdom generally, it has long since
ceased to be question of rent, but has become one of vital im-
portance to the community, as affecting the employment of the
largest body of our labourers, and tie success, and of course
expenditure of the possessors, •an aggregate of capital and in-
dustry of the last importance to the nation, to whose strength
they have hitherto contributed so much. Nevertheless, we
repeat, an improvement is in progress which in time will correct
all. If we cannot wait for its operation, a direct levy upon pro-
perty and income in some shape or other, by whatever name
it may be called, .to render feasible an equal abatement of
taxes which press upon industry, is the only other remedy.
The proprietors of the soil are the only people to step for-
ward and stem the current of ruin from families who constitute
the most valuable part of our country, namely, the good, ho-
nest, industrious farmer. If they; would allow their actual pro-
perty to be.taxed, then we might be exonerated from the many
vexations of minor taxes, and be enabled to pay our present
rents without reduction ; cultivate their land with spirit and
cheerfulness, and retain that, which, from oppression, is be-
coming an open waste again, to the great disgrace and loss of
our country gentlemen, and injury to the state, for the lack of
employment promotes pauperism and distress. If the taxes be
not taken off, or rents considerably reduced, we are convinced,
half our country will be thrown into a situation the most alarm-
ing ; and God only knows the result.