The Sun.
London, England, 1821-01-15 00:00:00

COLONIAL TIMBER. TRXDE.

As this important question will, it is presumed,
engage the attention of Parliament in the next
Sessions, we think it our duty to lay before our
readers the observations of an Intelligent writer
on the subject, from which it is manifest, that the
permanent interests and' general prosperity of the
empire, as involved in the interests of the British
Colonies, will be best promoted by continuing
the timber trade on its present foo:ing—not only
as it - affects them, but also the manufactures,
shipping and seamen of the Mother Country.
We have, from the commencement of our la-
bours,' invariably maintained, that the old policy
of the Country is preferable, in every point of
view, to the speculations of the Modern Econci-
mists. hitherto this Country has-grown great
in strength, dominion, and wealth, on a judicions
and cautious system of restriction, in its com-
mercial and maritime intercourse with Foreign
Nations; and any deviations from it, how ever plau-
sible in theory, will produce the most ruinous
consequences to the State. The Naval Power of
the Empire depends on its continuance ; and
although Dr. Smith has aid, that " it is not im- '
possible that some of these regulations may have.
proceeded in m national animosity, yet they are
as wise as if ,hey had been dictated by the most
delibe ate w•sd ; and as defence is of much
more importance than opulence," he admits,
" that the Act of Navigation is perhaps the
4C wrest of" all the cornmercial r,?gulations of
" England :" -being an exception to the ge-
neral rules he has laid down as applicable to other
countries, which are not insular and are differ-
ently circumstanced from-Great Britain, it is to
be expected that the Legislature will not lend
itself to the delusive speculations of the Advo-
cates of the opinions disclosed in the Parliamen-
tary Reports on the Timber and Foreign Trade
of the Country ; but adhere steadily to'the po-
licy of our ancestors, which has been so admira-
bly inculcated by Sir William Temple ; the late
Lord Chatham ; the late Earl of Liverpool
and though the last mentioned, not the less de-
serving of distinguished consideration and at-
tention, the late Right Honourable George Rose.
If, however, the Legislature should accede
to the views of the Advocate; for the relief, as it
is termed, of the Baltic Trade, and is inclined to
remove the restrictions complained of ; with
what consistency can they grant any further re-
lief to the Agricultural Interest, either by im-
posing duties on Foreign Corn, or extending
the present restrictions upon it ? And with what
justice can they continue the present heavy du-
ties on foreign butter, &c. for the relief of Ire-
land, and totally abandon -the interests of the
King's Colonies in America and the British Ship
Owners ? For the Colonies are confined by the ex-
isting Laws to Trade altogether with the Mother
Country for every thing they consume, with the
exception of a few articles, which they are allowed
to take from Europe South of Cape Finisterre, in
return for Colonial Fish and produce.
We conceive we need not press these observa-
tions further than to say, that as the agriculture
and shipping .of the country must stand or fall
by the continuance of the present system, we
must deprecate any change from it, and we ex-
pect to see these TWO GREAT BODIES OF MEN
making common cause and cordially uniting in an
appeal to the Legislature for their common pro-
tection at the present critical moment.
The 'Work to which we allude has been re-
cently published by a respeciable; Bookseller
in the City, and is entitled " Observations on
the Reports of the Select Committees of poth Houses
of Parliament on the ,Subject of the TiMber-Trade
and Commercial Restrictions ;" lfcc.
4c. from which
we shall give large extracts :
The Writer uleserres—" At a period when the Legisla-
ture has herr' called upon, by numerous bodies of merchants
and manufacturers, to remove nearly all the restrictions and
prohibitions by which our mercantile system has been hi-
therto carried on, and when the principles of political eco-
nomy are sought to be applied in the broadest manner to our
navigation and commerce, without almost considering, whe-
ther the other nations of the earth have any similar or other
regulationi, equally deviating train those principles ; I have
felt it a duty to make some observations on the Report of the
Select Committees of both Houses of Parliament, to whom
these petitions were referred, to show, that however just and
true the modern principles of political economy may be in the
abstract, their application to our navigation, commerce, and
manufactures, can only he beneficial, when made to bend to
the various artificial and embarrassing systems of other
countries; and when so shaped as to- meet those adverse du-
tiet and restrict' , in the mode the most profitable to our-
selves and the least irksome and disagreeable to the various
people with whom we have to deal. Those, therefore, who
throw out the signal fur free trade, and the universal adop-
tion of the principles of modern political economy, as the
panacea tor- all oar ills, should consider, whether it is not
cruel, thus to raise false hopes and to delude our artisans And
smaller manufacturers (well knowing that .t his country, ow-
ing to its heavy burtliens, is in no condition materially to
alter its duties and prohibition's, and that the maintenance
of its independence requires a moderate protection to our
agriculture and the security of 'bur naval power), and whe-
ther it he prudent, as regards foreign nations, to hold oat
any gr'eater relaxation of our general system than the peculiar
circumstances of our country will permit, hut honestly to
declare otir wish to adopt the most liberal policy in our com-
mercial intercourse with foreign states, that a just regard to
those circumstance-, wilt allow. •
"'lime reports made to the two Houses of Parliament, from
the Select Committee., for extending and securing the foreign
commerce of the conettry,to whom were referred the petitionsof
I he. merchants of London, &c. when made known to the pub-
lic, will excite not a little surprise, as well for what they re-
commend, as for what they do, not recommend. That of the
Lords. being confined to the Timber Trade, to which the im-
mediate attention of Parliament must be directed, and being
very important in itself, I shall begin with, and make my re-
marks in the order, as the observations occur in the Report.
It states The encouragement afforded tei the Importation of
Wood from the British Colonies in North America, by the
• imposition of heavy duties on Wood from Foreign States,
' is of comparatively recent date, and does not appear to have
• formed a part of,the Commercial or cohmiat'Policy of the
' Country previous to the late war. 'fill the year 1909, little
• or no duty had been imposed upon the various species of
' 'Timber; in, that and the• sueueeding year, however, the-
' nature of our political relation with the Baltic Powers led
• to an apprehension. that great difficuty might be found in
I deriving the usual supplies of 'limber front that quarter,
' not only (or the general purposes of domestic use, but more
' particularly fur the purpose of Ship-bui:ding.
' " • It was, however, known, that Timber in any quantity
' although of an inferior quality, might be obtained in the
British Golonies in North America. But this being a new
' branch of trade, and exposed to some risk and uncertainty,
• itwas deemed expedient to give the Canadian Wood the ad-
' vantages not only of an exemption from all duty, on such as
was fit for Naval purposes, and of a duty little more than
• nominal upon all other descriptions, but also of considera-
ble increase of Duty on Wood front the North of Europe.
" High permanent Duties, and a temporary War Duty,
• were accordingly imposed upon all descriptions of Wood
imported front Foreign Countries by the 49 Geo. Ili. c. 95,
were doubled by the 50 Om 111. c. 77; and these
wert. afterwards" partially increased by the 51 Geo. 111. c.
93, anc"‘y the fii Geo. 111. o. 117, and a duty of va per
cent. uP°"skie whole of the prim anent Duties, was added 'by
the 53 Geo. sr,s. sg. b
", The several -tine aforesaid were afterwards arranged

. . .
• and consoiidatedlry the 59 Ceo-. ili. c. 59 ; and is schidule
' taken from the-said Act, of the details of the existing Du-
' ties on all descriptions of Wood imported from Foreign
Countries, is annexed to this Report.
•" The Committee have been informed, by their) of his
• Majesty's Ministers who are' members of the Cothmittee.
that the Canadian Merchants were tiever led to believe that
any of these duties wooly! he permanent ; do expectation
• however held out, that the duty of 91. ls.-first imposed,
6 would be continued for some considerdy time ; hut' no such.
expectation was fairly raised with respect 'to the war duff
• and the duty imposed in 1813, and the- exemption front
• duty on Canadian timber has always been temporary, and
1- wilt; tmless renewed by Parliament, expire in July, 1820,--
. although the parties have been given to understand, that
it may be further continued till March, 1821. This view of
• the subject has been constantly explained . to the Canadian
merchants in-various communications, to which' this vies-
' tion has led. between them and the Board of Trade.',
Whatever representations may have beets made to indi,
vidual merchants by members of the Board of Trade, can he
known only to themselves; but that the colonists and the
public at large were not led to entertain any other idea than
that the duties would be permanent, so far as to secure at
least one half of the supply to them, the following- extract
from the Parliamentary debates, and particularly the speech
-of the late Right- Hon. U. Rose in the House of Commons,
when he introduced the measure, will show.
" House of Commons,Tuesday, May 92, 1810.
"‘ (Foreign Timber and Shipping.)—Mr. Rose moved the
• order of the day for the House resolving itself into a Corn
' mittee, to consider of the propriety of increasing the duty
• on the importation of foreign timber, &c. He then stated
to the Committee, that the object to which he had to call
the attention of the Committe was of very great import•
ance. -It was, that by adopting the-policy of laying a heavy
additional ditty on the timber ins pot ted from the north of
, Europe, they might entourage the iinportation of that',
article from-our own colonies in North America.
The price of timbei in. the north of Europe had, within
• these few years, risen to an enormous extent ; unless in-
''• deed than 300 per cent. Another disadvantage attending
• this trade was, that in the present state of Europe tbr
timber was brought to us, not by British, but • by foreign'
• Ships; and taeis to such a degree, that he believed there
• was paid last year between 2 and 3,000,00411, to foreigners
alone for the. freightage of timber imported to the amount
• of 358,000 tons. He believed that one half of the timber
• necessary for our consumption might be procured front our
• own colonies in North America, which, with the pities of
Canada, would nearly supply the whole ; and even if it
fell short of his expectation, the country would be cons-
' pensated for the loss by other advantages. The system now
in use encouraged not only the building,of foreign ships;
but the formation of foreign sailors; and by the measure
he.now bad to propose, be trusted a change would he
• wrought, by which, instead of twice that number of sea-
' men, trained for Denmark and Russia to be employed
' against us by our enemies, about 15,000 would he created
• for ourselves. The measure would, besides, encourage our
C010114'5. It would enable them to clear their grounds of
• timber, and induce the cultivation of flax, hemp, &c. for
our importation. In return, the. Colonies would be en-
, abled to take our manufactures, instead of our being ob-.
' liged to send out for their Timber, as we now did, our ships
• in ballast. The principle of his proposition was nut new;
it was as old as the days. of Queen Arose. He adverted to
an extraordinary and ill-judged assertion, advanced by a
Noble Lord (Cochrane) on a former nighlis, that there was
not Timber 'enough in Plymouth Dock-yard to build one
half of a seventy-four. He. regsetted the Noble Lord
• could have been so hasty, and recommended him more cats-
• tiros in.making such unguarded
.assertions .for the future.
' The Timber now in Plymouth Duck-yard Was out of all
• proportion greater than that specified by the Noble Lord.
Upon all these considerations he trusted the Committee
• woold concur with hire in the Resolution—
" To lay an additional duty on oak, Wainscot, Brc.
ported under, any shape from the north of Europe, and all
Timber not imported by the East India Company, or direct-
' !v front out own Colonies in North America.
Sir W. Lemon said a few words in favour of the Re-

solution.
- " Mr. Horner rose, to call the earnest attention of the
House, not so much to. the present itesolutiou us to the
alarming increase of foreign shipping in our trade, thus
incidentally brought under their eye on the present occasion.
he Right Hon. Gentleman had stated, that last year, for
the freightage of Timber alone to the extent of 380,000
• tons, this country had paid to foreigners the sum of from
' 4 to 8,000,0001. r and on a former evening, an Hon. Gentle- •
' man, well* acquainted with trade, on the subject of the
mating insurance, had informed them that not less than
' 10,000,0001. was paid the same year for the whole• foreign
freightage. This he considered as an alarming inerease of
foreign shipping, entirely subversive of our maritime system.
He agaiSi Then eiatreatect the House to take into their serious
consideration this new and growing evil, which, in h is opi.
nion, arose- altogether out of the mercantile System,
so much the favonrite of the Right Honourable the
Chancellor of the Exchequer. (if this • system, so
persevered in, Buonaparte might be taking the advantage,
• and, like Cromwell, who, by diverting the trade front the
Dutch, became the carrier and first maritime power of Eu
rope, he migl.t he deluding our government, by pretending
a total disregnsr I to commerce, while, in fact, even in the
• midst of wan, by. our own connivance, he was creating sea-
' men to man Ili* fleets against us ; for he could at any time
transfer to his service these men thus employed in a nett-
' trtl trade, of powers immediately under his controul. If
exercised his genius, as he was well able to do in this
way, he would be playing a deep game, and deluding us by
taking advantage of our own ill-judged policy.
" Mr. Rose, in reply, stated, that so far from encouraging
' foreign shipping, the Board of Trade never in our instance
swerved 'from this principle, never to admit a foreign ship
' to g where a British ship could be employed. The Hon.
• Gentleman talked of their being deluded ; but how was this?
It seas by the strong band of Buonaparte, Which procured
'• exclusion of British shipping front the ports of-the north
of Europe. The •question'thel: was, whether, by accepting
neutral carriage, where no other could be used, they set-re
to carry on an important trade ? or, by rejecting this
means, were to shut the door on their exports, and starve
their manufacturers? It was a consolation to know, that
under all the disadvantages imposed by the enemy, our own.
shipping had increased in value. As a proof of this, be
• instanced a vessel, bought three years ago fur 27001. now
selling at 60001. •
" Mr. D.Giddy considered it as a matter of general policy
to enucurage trade with our own colonies. The argument.
of Buonaparte'S treading in the steps of Cromwell was an
'additional reason for approving of the proposed measure.
•Ile had heard, hoWever, that the timber from North Ante-
' ricer was not adequate for our national purposes, and
also that the quailtity could not be so great as the Right
.' Honourable Gentieman expected, or the 'lases of the country
required. •
" The Chancellor of the Exchequer rose to endeavour to
dissipate the gloomy apprehensions expressed by the
• Honourable Gentleman oppoSite, and those which
' speech might have excited as to the commercial state o!
• the country. Tbere.were, doubtless, a great many foreign
ships employed in our trade to the various putts of the north
of-Europe, as it was impossible to carry on trade with those
places • in •Eenglish ships, His Right Hon. Friend, there-
' ' fore, was obtaining a
.snpply of
.Tialber front onrown-cult,-
' that. foreign Ships might not be so much encouraged.
• The Hon. tientlenian '.opposite must, theCefore, think the
evil of which fie had complained. If foreign ships had hero
1' plan he proposed , most Wise, as it went to counteract that
much employed trading to the North of Europe, British ees-
' sell had beets employed instead of others in thetrade to
South America and to the Spanish and Portuguese Colo
Dies,- so that if there were an increase of foreign tonnage itt
ode quarter, there was •an increase of British tonnage in
'another. In 1.a07 the•tonnage,of British vessels causing in-
ward amounted to 8590 tons; it. 1809 the amount Was 10,173
• tons, having increased 1593 tons. The tonnage of foreign
ships) employed in 1807 amounted to 3702 ISO its
amount was 4684,.having- increased. since 1807 by-9SO
• Thus it appeared that there was an increase of the tonnage
• of foreign vessels employed in our trade of 9SO tons, while
' the increase of-British tonnage amounted to 1583 tons.—
' Front this it must appear that all the advantage was not on
' the ide of foreign vessels. hut that the increase of their
tounage.. arose from the general increase of trade. • 'l' he
' tonnage of the English, vessels cleared out in 1807 was
8984 tons ; tit 18QP it was 9935 tons that of foreign ves•
sets cleared twit in the former year was 31i30 ; in the latter,
4870. Hence it would be obvious that the increase of the
• tonnage of foreigu,vessels .was 7.40 tons, .while that of the
' English vessels Aleared out amounted to 1011 ; so that the
increase of the. trade carried on in English vessels was
greater in proportion-than the increase of that carried on
• by means of foreign shipping.
" Mr. Trrmayne_ was apprehensive that the American
timber was tint fit. for all the purposes to which this country
' would wish-to apply. her importations 'of that article, anti
we woult:4 therefore, he at a loss for our necessary sup-
' plies, were a heavy duty, amounting to a prohibition, to be
laid on that procured from the North of Europe.
• ." Mr. Baring objected tel the system of trade favoured by
• Ministers, as tending to prefer the northern neutrals,
' Which were, in fact, Our enemies, to the American ship-
' ping; in the trade to• Norway and the Baltic. That trade
might much better,be carried on under the American flag;
but for this really neutral power had been substituted pre•
:coded neutrals, who might be instantly contgittd into cite-

.6 ' •
t mies, and we were Consequ'e.ntly., by ibis 'course, et)i,cliolg
part of the world it was least on r interest to' en rich. This was
he great error of the present system—the encoural:ement
of the notthein powers instead of Arne' Ica. With rigaril
' to the measure itself, he feiired our colonies would neit het
pro-duce a sufficient quantity of timber, nor that of sufli-
' cient quality. It would, besides, give the western part of
' the kingdom an advantage over the' eastern, as the fio Ter
:would be supplied-front America, and the latter from -qv
''Baltic. It would,al4oincrease the price of a nec.!•4vry aii
:Mliticle;ra•lr.eady Thenb.iret was; "ever.,,
a great one, and• the experiment might, pet haps, deserve
to be I ried:

" No more, I flatter myself. need be said as to the perma•
nency of the system hell out by Government. • On the just-
ness of Mr. _Rose's remarks, and their exact accomplishment.
I shall remark by and bye. The Committee then divide their
observations into four heads first, on the cotilparAtive
of timber from the north of Europe and trdut 11w
British Noll h .American Colonies; and their remarks ran that
subject are perfectly unnecessary,' as.the qualities Were Well
knoviiii, even according to their own report, when the first
dutie:s tiiblt place, neld it never was intended to exclude the
timber of the northern powers, but by admitting about on,
half of etibli that.from the Colonies might be applied to an

infinite munber of purposes, for which itAnswers just as well
as thy ot her, 'and; by raising a competition againit the Euro•
pear timber, bile of Mr. Rose's objects has hero attained
that of forcing them to selltheir timber at a reasonable pr'ee,
in place of laying 300 itei• cent. on the cost ; and which is an
answer'to the 'Committee's second dbset c;itiont. respecting
cheapness, and proves that we are indebted for its cheapness,
in the north of Europe; to the competition rai•ed, bring•
ing the American • timber into the market, and we have ni
other security for 'its continuance at a reasonable tate, but
by persevering in the.beneficial sYitem of the dillies. • •
"-The next two heads of observation embrace the me•ritsul

the whole case, and are as followf the
.direttiuri
' which the s)stem of duties has given to the.cothincrce and
' 'consumption of the countrv, 83 far as respects the.articli! ut
wood.' 4th. •'1 he probable effect which any materipl de-
' elation ur 4lteration of these duties Might Ise expected to
produce On the consumption of the Coumtry, on its trade
' with Eu-opi and with the'Colunies, and un the particular
4 interests concerned.' • • -,!-

So long as the public has .a' choice of i•Vtiod froM the
North of Europe arid from Canada, it nee nut be
matter of complaint that the timber of the latter has
got more into use, in consequence of the cmuinuance of
the duties. It has been clearly proved, that its quatniesare
well known, and, therefore, the Committee need not be
alarmed that the public, having the choice of a better article,
should still, for various purposes, tire it a preference;—that
is a qnestion which may be safely left to the.public public; there is
no danger of their 'continuing to buy an article, which, on
trial,-is found unfit for -the uses to whielrit is applied the
importation, in that Case, would cease, without the inlet fe,
rence of government. The fact is, it is admirably adapted
for various important purposes, where lightness and ease of
workmanship are required; and, as the Committee profess
to have the interests of commerca in view, they most be
promoted by hating `a cheap wood for packages, of which,
perhaps, one million are used throughout the kingdom, in the
course of the year, and which cannot, on au average, be esti-
mated at less than ten feet of deal each, whirls alone, must
take off an immense quantity. If the Committee had called
any of the ship•carpenters on the Thames, they would have
learned, that there is •not a stick of timber from the British
North American Colonies.mted in ship-building, except for
masts and yards ; and as it is highly beneficial to commerce
to have this cheap wood for the purposes to which it is ap-
plied, those interests cannot be better promoted, than by
keeping the timber trade on its present footing, with, per-
haps, a slight alteration, to make deals pay according to their
entire contents, or even a Small additional duty on- foreign
ileals to favour British and Colonial labourers in that ar-
tide." •

The Author's observations on the main points
n discUssion we must reserve for to-morrow.
[l'o be continued.]

I

Parliament a few days before his,thyparttire for "
~; •
Laybach, intimating the iteeSsity of making
some changes in the Constitution. 'Four of the
Ex-Minister, Rlcct.Attoil TiiOISIS, CAP.
ItASOSA, MACEiiON.I.O,-weli itqfwitted of the-
,charg ah Cilltivn respettitig tils: two
others cipOned-to the 26tkulAmo. A--Law
had passed elParliamant;abolishing the remains - •
of the Feudal Rights, dnd was expected to re-
ceive the Royal Sanction.
.4

and feelings which they haVe invariably :mani-
fested in the present. .We are in possession. of
,
the reply, in the negative, of a Noblernani a dis-
• nguished tneinber of the \% Party, to the
;application of a respectable body of individuals
to present an .Address to the Sovereign, in which
the necessity of reforming in- a moderate and
constitutional manner, the ,ahuses, which haVe
crept into our Representative System, was
gested in manly and energetic, but respectful
language.—As our readers cannot but lie curious
. ,
to know the reasons of his Lordship, for conduct
30. at 'variance with the professions of his- party,
We shall present them .with a copy of the letter,
omitting, for the present, the names of the Peer
alluded. to? and of the individual to whom it was
addressed, but pledging ourselves for its authen-
ticity and genuineness :

• " Could I concur with my neighbours at —7-----i in the
-" sentinients, contained in the Address, which you have 'done
." use the honour to send me, I should feel great pleasure in
presenting it to His Majesty, at the Levee. But as my own
" sentiments are veryanuch at variance with parts of that
"Address, I feel myself under the necessity of declining to
r" ptesent it. ',-I concur with those who have signed it,' nibe-:
" !ieving that the 'policy of the present Administration, far
" from tending tO relieve the Country from any part of its
" financial embarreisnstents, or to allay the -existing dis-
" contents, has a ;direct tendency to augn'ent them.—
" Deeply impressed with Alas conviction,: I . have long
a' felt it to he my duty tO.Oppose them, and I d-o not besi.
-"late to assert that we cannot expect any - mati-rial lin-
" provement under that systems which has been too long
" perseveres! in, and which is likely to continue while these
" men remain in power. But your Address dues not limit
" itself ti", these cousiderations. It asserti,that att. the evils
" of which it complains, have their origin in , the defective
1' iOate of the representation. Our cumulative distresses
.
‘ hare been principally caused by the American War, and
' by the two inure recent Wars with France, all which
``wars, whether politic or otherwise, were righly popu-
1' lar in their commencement, and sanctioned by. the
" strongest public feeling. Whatever may have been the
" results of these tun; and ruinous contests, it would be a
" gross misrepresentation to say, that they were forced upon
" a reluctant people by their Representatives.—l Have always
" thought, that it would be expedient to extend the right of
" direct represcutation -to some places which have risen to
" great wealth during the last century, and to deprive others
4,` "1 That privilege which may be proved to be habitually
-` and incorrigibly venal. At the same time that I ad-
" trait these, and perhaps some other Modifications of the
`: lYitem to be safe and even serviceable, I .am as
I tally persuaded that any sudden and exten'sive:reform of
4-
the Representation would be wholly ineffectual for all good,
` and very efficient to many. bad, purposes. I cannot but
contemplate the hopes which many profess to,entertain, of
" finding a remedy for the public distress in what is com-
u monly termed Parliamentary Reform, as altogethei illusory,
e;.at►d fair they hare been already too generally encouraged
4, "Y'Pstsous whose object was not the repair, hut the sub.
veraion of the Constitution. Entertaining these opinions,
.: much as I respect the pure motives of the respectable in-
habitants of ----. •l feel myself precluded from.olfering
._ ' them my services on the present occasion."
It is curious enough to-observe, that the only
Portion of the address, with.which his Lordship's
sentitnents are not at variance, and a small por-
tion i •
t is, is that in Which the dismissal of His
Ai iesty's present Ministers is recommended;
-whilst it is the only part of it, from which, in oar
91,Pillion, the real friends of the Sovereign and the
I eo
P'e '-ould be disposed to discent) because. if
"44)1'
of • led.with, it would tend to ttie. advancement
boh , men to power, who are the worst enemies of
t.
whilst the other parts. of the Address
1.
Peiot
• out the necessity of administering some
ei IEI far #
tres our agricultural and commercial dis-
ses) arid of reforming the abuses of Parlia-
in
,Lentary Representation,.in a tone respectful to
" e
r Sovereign and creditable to their own mode-
ation atid good sense. We shall) perhaps, take
Some. other opportunityOpportunitylength of remarking- more at
upon his Lordship's Letter, but before we
dis •
zniss it, we must take leave to observe, that we
'allnot admit the fact, upon which his Lordship
dwells with particular
three emphasis, namely, that the
ree great wars which-he reprobates as impolitic
Were , .•
I,
c' highly popular in their commencement,"
ts
as any argument to prove, -that " the great part
°f the • representat'ive3 of tine people" are. not,
merely" the commissioned deputies. of their res-
t.;
~ Pectiye chiefs, whose sentiments they declare,
and whose interests they pursue ;" because it
~
, 4"es net sheW that if the 'wars had, on the con-
.rar 7
• 1,,s Y 7 been - unpopular, they couto NOT have
4 " " forced on 'a reluctant people by their
1/res ,
u. ,entatives."„
bat P°4 the whole, we conceive his Lordship
to
• in i • rnlaietely_proved, that we were not. wrong
,ie .
to tl, ring the Whigs have no great attachment
de ~,:e Public welfare, and that their clamorous
—and
is no for a redress of the people's grievances
1 lice/4;4l°re than an engine to promote their Own
and f.'"s and factious views. Licentiousness
Ppl:2tticit,l are terms, that we would not hastily
to ki‘ ° ally party.; we shall, therefore, in order
.. ,e._
,t 'Y that we do not apply them in this in-
ance
' rharact unadvisedly, present our readers with the
!they b eristics of licentiousness and faction, as
- erninena," been illustrated by a powerful and
)". 1 -writer no less distinguished- for the
zeal with
I lert " which he advocated the cause Of Li 7
TheYi than
„. -,eaders
for his love of religion and virtue.
of faction, be says, " being natu-
rally.tc of the higher ranks,- would aim to esta-
Wish a
n n ARisToCRATic power, and inslave both
K-rince and
tic( People to their own avarice and
atnbitint ''
1 cc of '• ------" Thug " he' adds, " if any set
--)
1 cc men had in .former times been in power, and,
Whilein cc • Power, had oppressed, embarassed Ma-
ujesty ; had 'intimidated nrm to their own pug-
cc Poses; had, by these means,. usurped the legal
4 , prerogatives of the Crown,and'applied them
rather to the support of their own influence
:: than to the public welfare.—lf the legal privi,-
( lig" of the people- had fared no better in
their hands—If these, too, had been swallow-
ed 0 •
lc P m the great. gulph of Aristocratic
~, Power—lf the Members of the Lower House,
.1/4 while they seemed to be the free represen-
cctatives - of the people, had been in truth) a
~ great
part of them,, no more than the corn-
t, missioned deputies of their respective Chiefs,
whose sentiments they declared, and whose
. c, interests they pursued—lf- such a set of men)
, as soon as they lost their influence,
. . ct rail at. should now
the privileges of the Crown, as the en-
1/4gmes of despotism, though they had been for-
t( oierly allowed by the wisdom of the State, as
c the 0
itasional securities of freedom—lf they
should
. 4,
4 .niaPrivileges. of the Lower House, beyond the
.“.!'
.s prescribed by a free constitution—lf
“ii ell. Pretaxe should be the vindication of- the

" people's rights ; while • their real' motive was'
" the restoration of .their own exorbitant power,
‘c-founded on an expected majority of .their
" dependants :—lf this conduct was pursued by
‘ any set of men, they would stand conyicted. 9p:
" A CLEAR MARK. OF LICENTIO USN ESS AND
64 FACTION 1"
Our limits would prevent us, if it were riot .un,
necessary, from tracing the -conduct of the Whigs
during the last seventy years, in
.order to point
out the various instances which convict then'!" of
these several niarks,of licentiousness and faction.
Their conduct, .however; at the preSerit day is
sufficient, to shew that they are neither attached
to the publiC welfare,--because this tan only be
steadily and effectually prorrioted on clear and
uniform-principles.; nor the
.friends of liberty.
because the latter swill endeavour to preserve
that just, balance of divided power, established
by law for the.security of freedom.; whereas it
is impossible to say, where the Whigs have .nat
been ielf,contradictory and inconsistent; not only
on different, but parallel occasions, and the letter
which -we have inserted .from a distinguished
member of thejr.party, praye.s, that they haire,no
inclination towards any. measures for preserving
the just balance'.ar divided .pOwer, but on the
contrary reprobate them " as, ineffectual for
all good, and very eMcient 'to many bad pur-
poses.", ,
Thus having, in our opirtiOn,. clearly.shet.7n,
that the Whigs are the patrons of licentiousness
and faction, and that their conduct is inconsist-
ent, ill-founded, narroW, and selfish ; we;
.shall
proceed shortly to suggest the most effectual
means of checking them in their progress ; of. re-
storing internal unanimity, and, securing public
freedom: These means we conceive to consist in
the steadiness of the Prince, and in the firmness;
the energy, and wisdom of his Minister. For in
the words of the admirable writer whom we have
before quoted, 44 If a Sovereign once gives way
" to the storms in 'which such a faction will in-
" valve Film, his peace and freedom, together
-‘‘ with those of his people, are inevitably de-
" stroyed'. On the contrary, if amidst all the
tumnits of sedition, he discovers an unalter-
" able firmness and fortitude, founded in upright
" intentions and real virtue; the rage of hopeless
" faction will by degrees subside ; and a pro-
" spect of better times will open upon Him and
44 His people."

FROM ,t THE BRITISH NlONrroa" OF YESTERDAY.

On the authority of the Continental Journals,
I stated in last week's Paper, and I believe all
the 'other LOndon Papers did the same, " that
the BritiSh and French Ambassadors at Naples
had presented a note jointly with those of
Austria, Prussia, and Russia, to the King of
Naples, to induce him to repair to Laybach."—
It is now with much satisfaction that I have to
state on the most unquestionable author,ity, that
the Ambassadors of England and Franco did not
present any such note as mentioned in the foreign
fouriials. And 1 have further authority to state,
that the Courts of London and Paris have not,
nor will interfere direct or indirect in the nego-
ciatious now carried on at Troppau, or at Lay-
bach. I hope that_ every publicity will be given
to this statement, especially as it is stated in a
note presented by the Austrian Minister at Ham-
burg to the Senate of that city, that the Mo-
narchs assembled at Troppau expect the assent of
the-Courts of London and Paris to their proceed-
ings,"-=which assent I have very good authority
to state will never be given!
[PRIVATE CORRESPO NDENCE.]
VIENNA. Dec. 25, 1820.—1 t is generallY•understood that
the Prince Royal of Naples himself has caused to be repre-
sented to the Sovereigns at Troppau, the distracted state of
his country.; and although desirous of having a free Consti-
tution, still be thinks it will not be effected till a foreizn
force shall take possession of Naples, and which only can re-
store tranquillity. The note presented to.the King of Naples
to repair to Laybach, was signed by the Ambassadors of
Austria, Russia, and Prussia: those from England and France
taut; no part whatever in it• The squadrons of tho,, two
countries in the Bay of Naples, are only there to protect the
Royal Fatuity from personal danger or violence.
The Austrian Minister, Baron Lehzeltern, is gone to Rome
to engage his Holiness to anathematize the Neapolitans,
Spaniards, and Portuguese, but which the Holy Father would

not accede to.
There, it at present a struggle between Prince Metternich
and-Count Stadion, for supreme power in the Austrian Ca-
hinft. The former has had ton !ranch influence for the last
ten years.. The latter is a very enlightened Statesman, and
has many friends.
Since the arrival at Troppan of M. Pizzo di Borgo; the
Allied Sovereigns have put water 41 their wine, as he pointed
out the dangerous consequences t'f a war, especially as to its
influence in Paris, where the Liberaux only wait for an op-
portunity to commence offensive operations; indeed the ge-
neral opinion here is, that the eloignemeia is not very great
between that party and Austria. Therefore, a large Aus-
trian force in Italy, and especially in Piedmont, might bring
on -strange events-
[This letter was written before the arrival of the King of
Naples at Layhach.l—(ibid.)

Loan Eass.l.N.E.—lt will be seen by a „Scotch
Report (in THE SUN of Saturday) that Lord
ERSKINE is suing his Lady for a divorce 'upon
a charge of -Adultery.—This proceeding ren-
ders the conduct of .his Lordship nothing short
of a home question. His Lordship may now
be asked, what would he say, if some thousands
of persons, before hearing a word of the evi-
&nice, or during the trial, or even against the
opinion of the Judges (supposing that were to be
in his favour,) should affirm that there ought to
have been no suit, that the charge was malicious,
that the ,voice of the giddy multitude ought to pre-
vail, instead of that of the Judges, and that no
consequences ought to ensue from the proceeding !
His Lordship, it seems, having failed, upon a
point of law or form, in the Scotch Court, has
determined to apply to the Consistorial Court of
England. We do not presume to know any thing
of the merits of the case ; but we have been cre-
dibly informed that the evidence to be adduced
is all circumstantial (than which nothing certainly
can be stronger or better) though his Lord-
ship would not admit the damning proofs thus
forcibly substantiated, perhaps beyond all prece-
dent, in the case of our adulterous Queen! How
differently he decides (and how naturally too)
when the case is brought home to his Lordship's
own bosom and feelings !--(Morning Post,
Jan. 15.)

The QUEEN and her MAJESTY'S hOusehold
went into mourning yesterday. The Rev. R,.
FELLn-wts performed divine service before her

MAJESTY.

i•AW INTELLI,GENCE.

;'CO('RT,OF.CHANCFAtY-_-jIIIS MORNING,)

This being tile,first Seal, brfore Hilary Term,
,he LORD Cif iNCI7,I4,Qa ptiße into Court at. an
early hour ; his Lordship had
.a, tuna confetence
with the Attorney in his Lordship's private
room.
A great number of Commissions And other pub-
lic documents having passed, the Great Seal, the
regular motions of the day were proceeded in.

SERGISSODt SERGISSON.,
In this interesting case, Mr. HART wished to
know,. if his Lordship had seen the Learned
judi.l'e that tried the issue in this cause, to disco-
ver the legitimacy of the daughter of the late
Colonel Sergisson, as it would be desirable to
have a copy a the notes of the Learned Judge,
for the purpose of a motion for setting aside the
proceedings that had talon place.
The LORD CUANCELLOII.—" Mr. Hart, the,
Learned Judge has lot yet been within the reach
of the applicati-c-ku."
The remainder of the (lag Was occupied in
hearing motions of no interest except to the par-
ties concerned. •