The Sun.
London, England, 1818-03-19 00:00:00

Fun THE SUN.

MR. EDITOR,--I thank you to insert in
your exceltent Paper the following OBSERVATIONS
on Mr. DAVIDSON'S late Publication on the POOR
LAWS ; in which, though there are some asser-
tions I cannot assent to, there is a great deal
which merits approbation.

The great desideratum at present seems to be
employment for the industrious, able-bodied La-
bourers in the country. 'lbis he gives up as im-
practicable; but, if this be really the case, we
can no longer hold the place we have hitherto
held among the nations of the earth ; yet, as we
have found employment for them for 200 years
past, and flourished under th,.. difficulty, I should
hope, by some modification of the law, without
abandoning the charitable principle of it, we
might flourish still. For, without this class of

men, the State cannot exist ; nor can the La-
bourers be laid up, like their ploughs and harrows,
' under a thatched roof, to be called forth when
occasion may require ; they are living bodies, and
must be fed. Mr. Davidson purposes, after a
time, to feed them by voluntary contributions—a
article, surely, too precarious to be depended upon
in a matter of so great importance. Page 102,
he speaks likewise-of their resources in a garden
and potatoe ground, with, speculations in pork
and poultry ; and page 120, that their own ener-
gies and understanding should be more steadily di-
rected to their own interests; and page 106, that
common reason must begin from a stimulating ne-
cessity. Now, the garden and the potatoe ground
may be of some help in countries where the po-
tatoe will flourish (in wet clay lands it does not
without extraordinary cultivation) ; as to the rest,
I think it most resolve itself into this, which Mr.
Davidson does not seem aware of, that the La-
bourer must live by his wits ; that his wits are to
be furnished by his necessities (ingenu largiter
venter), and, his necessities must drive him to
plunder his master's store, to support his pigs and
poultry ; and necessity must he his defence. By
an means, then, let us find him work, that he
may maintain himself and family by an honest,

industry.
England is the-onlynatlon, I believe,
wlrere the poor are provided for by law ; such a
characteristic mark of our beneficence is worth
preserving for its own sake ; I think, -fob, it is
not wholly unrepaid by the extraordinary industry
of our people.
.Mr. Davidson concludes with the three follow-
ing
Resolutions :--
Ist: That the provision of the present law for
the disabled poor in old age he continued.
2dly. That the present practice of parochial
relief to able labourers be.continued for ten years,
being placed in the mean time under more judi-
cious management.
idly. That after ten years no necessary relief
by law be granted to able labourers, but a volun-
tary subscription its lieu of it be 'substituted in
every parish.
To the first proposition I agree of course; to
his second and third I must object.
If the present system of administering the•Pbor
Laws is ruinous, as he represertta it to he, and
bad enough I believe it is become, from .abuse,
front the avarice of the farmer, from removals,
&c., the evil calls for immediate redress. - Let sis'7
reform, but not abolish ; whatever is to be done:,
should be done quickly, delay is dangerous. The
hardship, when it comes, will be the same ; ten
years notice will be no alleviation to the distress
which his plan would ultimately bring upon the •
able labourer; it nsigLat enable hint to take -
thought, indeed, but not to procure the means of
support, any More titan to add a cubit to his so=
tore.. He wiil be left smelly destitute ; it will be
foolish to talk of economy to him who has no-
thing to economise, and
.of parsimony to him who
has nothing to throw away.
It is assumed, that when there shall be no longer
a rate for his relief, his-wages will Ilse of course;
but such assumption is not well warranted ; the
rate of wages depends upon .the quantity of labour
in the market. That the farmer will give more,.
because he can afford it, is a supposition hardly
to be listened to ; •experience, too, has shesen
tbat voluntary contribution cannot be depended
upon; it is a measure but half productive ; the
liberal give, while those who can better afford it
perhaps shut their purses.• As long as a part of
mankind are sordid and selfish, there can be no
equality .of contribution, except by comtosion.
Why a gentleman is to make a better Overseer
than a farmer, I do not understand; the latter. is
removed at a less distance front the cottager, and
therefore more likely to be acquainted with his
wants, his habita; and general conduct;e•and if-
iu some.points.he is below the duties of his office,
the gentleman would certainly be above them
In page 95, he speaks highly of the- 43d of
Eliz. as far as relates to the disabled poor, but
,condemns it as to tile able-bodied—lntt consider-
ing that by refusing to find them svoek,rhe vebuld-
at once reduce then) to the state -of•the disah:ed.-
He hints that there has been some-hiittiake- io, tar
erroneous construction of, the Act ; but it appeals
to me to be a truly Christian Act of Parliament, and
to have been rightly understood. We are:anent'.
bers one of another, and surely every Christian
community is-bound to support its own members.
The obligation is reciprocal. The labourer is
compellable to work, and the rich of. :course to
find him employnient. If any
.rnan will not
work, 'says St. Paul, neither should he eat, and
again, it is said, if any man see his brother have
'teed, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion,
how dwelleth the love of God in him ? This
Act may certainly have tended to increase our po-
pulation, and well it has been for us that-it has:,
In the late contest what should we have done
without such an increase ? We have met our
enemy in the gate, and have not beets ashamed.
The fundamental principle of our Poor Law,
says Mr. Davidson, was charity, and charity,
says the Apostle, shall cover a multitude of sins ;
and who knows but that general principle of .be-
nevolence and fellow-feeling, so pleasing to the
Almighty, and exemplified in this very act, may
have added strength to our arm in the day of
battle ? Though it may be impossible at all times
to and work for mechanics, yet the country la-
bourer may be always employed to some advan-
tage ; a contrary opinion, has,. however, unfor-
tunately gone forth ; every farmer is' jealous of
his neighbour, and afraid he shall pay more that%
his share to the support of the poor, and in the
short days of winter turns off his labourers, de-
ceiving.himsell into the opinion, that he shall he
gainer by lessening his expences ; which short-
sighted and shabby policy his loss of crop and
increase of poor-rates are sure to counteract.
Hence arises that abominable practice of masters
and overseers becoming joint paymasters, -'ln .
some parishes, many of the cottagers who Tall
make friends with the overseers get their rents
paid out of the poor book. So certain am I that
farmers cats find svolk if they will, that I should
not hesitate to compel them to take into their
service the unemployed labourers, each according
to his rent ; and that they may have sufficient pay-
to maintain them, let a minimum be fixed by
Justices, or otherwise, as Parliament may judge
proper. When the farmer shall be obliged to pay
them, he will not be long before he finds them
employment.
As to mechanics, servants, &c. it is well known
that whets they are employed, they have more
wages than enough to maintain them. Compel
them, therefore, to lay by a part of their super=
fluous wages to maintain them at a time of need;
let their masters be compelled to deduct a portion
of their wages, to be placed in some Savings Bank
for their separate use. Should this plan be put in
practice, I have no doubt but that many farmer's
servants would see the advantage to be derived from
such savings, and be glad to be admitted into the
Society.--Yours, &c.--Jan, 21,
.1813.

THE SUN.

SOLEM QUIS DIcERE rAr,sUm AuDi•AT ?

LONDON,
THURSDAY, MARCH 19, 1813.

We received this morning the Paris Papers of
Sunday and Monday last. The following are
Extracts :

'` PARIS, MARCH 16 —Yesterday, before Mass,
M. d'OltSoll, Swedish Envoy Extraordinary, pre-
sented to the King, at a public audience, a Letter
from his Sovereign, notifying to his Majesty the
ileath of Charles XIII. and his own accession to
the Throne.

'' The Doke of Wellington had yesterday a long
conference with the Dkike the Richelieu, the Prus-
sian Ambassadsr, and the Baron Moonier, Coun-
cillor of State, President of the Mixed Commis-
lion for the Liquidation of Foreign Claims.

" It is in contemplation to erect a monument
to the Swiss, who, on the days of the 10th August
and 2d and 3,1 Septemtter, fell victims at Paris to
the most heroic devotion, and martyrs to their

" The waters have begun to inundate the road
'to Versailles, and on the side of St. Denis. The
oire has also overflowed its banks.

" Lord Spencer (we know not who is here
:meant) was on FuldAy conveyed to Saint Palagie,
for a debt of 40,000 francs, contracted in his
furnished hotel.

" The late tempest has caused great ravages in
the departmeut of C6tes-du-Nord ; upwards of
150,000 apple trees were blown down or torn up
by the roots, and nearly all the dwelling-houses,
particularly in the open country) were greatly da-
maged.

M. Fieate opposes the seizure of the 11 th
part of his Correspondence polilique et Administra-
tive. The Juge d' Instruction is about to commence
proceedings. The cause will, it is said, be called
on the 4th April before the Tribunal of Cor-
rectional Police.

" The Chamber of Deputies, on Saturday, in
a Secret Committee, discussed the proposition for

granting further time to the Colonists of St.
Domingo for the payment of their debts. It was
.agreed to, 95 to 32.
" The Duke of Wellington hunted on Saute,
day with the Dukes d'AngOuleme and de Berry
in the Forest of Saint Germain-en-Laye.

" On the 7th inst. there was a dreadtal storm
at Liege, accompanied by thunder and lightning.
Some days previous also, the lightning struck the
tower of the great Church of Bridle, and caused
much dam:igc.

" Up to the ht of September last, there lead
been struck with the effigies of Louis XVIII.
63, 617, 760 francs in Gold anti silver coins.

" FIVE PER CENTS.

"Saturday, ex. die. 6,f. 60c.

CoNSTANTtNOPLE, FEB. 10.—The Baron de
Strogonoff has ttansinitted another note to the
Divan, compl.'iping of the delays which have
arisen regartiing the ainirs of Servia.

" Lunec, MARcn 2.—The communications be-
t wren Sweden and Denmark have been completely
re established.

" BERLIN, MARCH 4.—Nothing is yet deter-
mined respecting the loan.

" FRANKFOUT, MAactt 9.—CoNstitntions are
arranging throughout Germany, and by degrees
the Representative System mill be organized with-
out trouble or noise. It appears that the Diet
will establish the first bases of this grand edifice
by enacting principles to be common to all the
Governments respecting individual liberty, the
liberty of the Press, the equality of men in the
eye of the law, and the privilege of not being
taxed without their own consent."

A half yearly Dividend of 5 per Cent. was ,this
morning declared at the Bank of England upon
Bank Stock.

\Ve yesterday avowed our conviction of the fal-
lacy of the report of the intended retirement of
the Earl of LIVERPOOL, and as it has not been
questioned by any other Journal, it may be fairly
supposed that this report had its origin in some
electioneering speculations, which both the high
and the low, who have any interests connected
with Parliamentary changes, are always found to
propagate on the eve of an expected General
Eleviou. Such reports are indeed uniformly put
into circulation when an event of this nature is
supposed to be at hand.—But we have no in-
terests of that kind, except a general interest
in the hope that the People will decidedly
exert themselves to prevent the return of any per-
sons who ate likely to disturb the operations of
Government with flivolous and vexatious de-
bates, for no purpose but to force themselves in-
to power by pertinacious hostility, or for the
mere parade of elaborate declamation. We,
therefore, repeat our satisfaction, that a Nobleman
who is at tare head of Administration, and as fully
qualified to be so, in point of integrity, sound
knowledge, extensive experience, and high ta-
lents, us any Statesman that perhaps could be
found in any Country, is not disposed to relinquish
Eris important situation, but to continue to hold
that office which has enabled him, in the most
difficult times, to steer the Vessel of the State into
the harbour of safety, to maintain the honour of
the British Empire, and eminently to contribute
to the deliverance of Europe.

It seems strange that the Public Journals in
general should have observed a cautious silence
respecting BERNADOTTE, and the impending dis-
grace of Royalty, by the elevation of a Man to
the Throne who was employed by his former
Master to destroy Kings, and to seize upon their
Territories.—That the Opposition Papers should
hare been silent on this subject is not surprising,
as they are in general actuated by Jacobinical prin-
ciples, and their uniform endeavours tend to the
destruction of all Legitimate Authority. But that
those Public Prints which are deemed Ministerial,
and may be supposed to be advocates for Heredi-
tary Sovereignty, should manifest the same cau-
tious forbearance, is really extraordinary. We
might ask them, indeed, whether they could ad-
vance any argument in support of BERNADOTTE'S
pretensions to the Crown of Sweden, which
would nor justify revolutionary measures in
every other Country, and as they certainly must
then answer in the negative, we might have rea-
son to be satisfied with their silence, if we did not
deem it a positive duty on their part to resist
revolutionary principles upon all occasions, and
upon all occasions to be equally zealous in sup-
porting the established rights of Monarchy. Per-
haps these Ministerial Writers, as they are stiled,
observe this guarded silence because they may
conceive that the British Government is not in-
di-posed to recognise BERNADUTTE as a lawful
Sovereign, or because they are not fully apprized
of its intentions. But unless they are slavishly
devoted to Government, a species of servility,
which we trust that Government is too dig-

nitres! to require, and too much respected by
the Country to need, they ought manfully
to express their seotiments upon a question
of the utmost importance to the solidity and
welfare of all Legitimate Authority. The
writers in favour of Government, besides their
moral superiority over their adversaries, are evi-
dently men of superior abilities, and 'time en-
larged knowledge. The superiority of their abili-
ties and knowledge has been strikingly evident
%Ton the subject of THE INDEMNITY BILL, for
they have fairly proved that to suspend the law
upon particular occasions is in reality to preserve
the Constiintion. But the Opposition writers
contended, because a few persons were taken into
custody upon information on oath that they had
been concerned in insurrectionary movements,
that the Constitution was destroyed.—The
Habeas Corpus Act, however, is again in full force,
because, by the wisdom and vigour of Go-
vernment, the Country has bceti secured from
;hanger. But to return to BERNADOTTE. If
Ministers have that regard for Legitimate Autho-
rity which the whole of their conduct must induce
even their enemies to atti ibut e to them, they roust
admire those who have independent minds, and are
not inclined to servile and slavish submission. It
is impossible but that a well-disposed people on any
part of the Globe must view with disgust the pros-
pect of seeing a revolutionary Upstart It, an
ancient Throne while the rightful Monarch and
his family are alive, a Monarch deprived of his
Crown for haviog asserted the dignity of Thrones
and the independence: Of Nations. We, there-
fore, call upon the Writers who are the
known advocates tor Goverument and law-
ful authority, to co-operate with us in the
endeavour to rouse the Swedish people into
a sense of the disgrace which they suffered
in tolerating the usurpation of the late Duke of
SLIDER MANIA, and which will be incalculably aug-
mented if they permit a reeolutiooery Intruder to
possess himself of a throne which belongs to an
heroic Monerch most unjustly deposed. Notwith-
standing the difficulties into which Sweden was
brought by CHARLES the XII. the people con-
tinued to be attached to that heroic Eothusiaste

hut his was military enthusiasm, %elide that of the
injured GUSTAVUS Apocrnus, whose very name,
so glorious in the annals of Sweden, might Le
supposed to kindle the flame of loyZy over that
country, was to repel revolationaty violence, to
sustain the dignity of the royal character, to stip•
port the rights of independent States, and to pre-
serve those of his people.

The following is the only article Worth notice
in our Port Letters of this day :—" The George,
--, from Liverpool to 'Waterford, was lost on
Wexford Banks 13th nit. ; crew saved."

GENERAL. ELECTION,—The great struggle in
Westminster, on the ensuing General Election,
will be between Lord COCHRANE and Sit FRANCIS
BURDETT, OH the one part, and Messrs. HONE
and It HUNT on the other; and, in the City,
between Messrs. WATTHIAN and WOOLER. It
is said, however, that Messrs. IlosE anti HUNT
have united their interests, in order that both may
become the sitting members, anti that a similar
coalition has taken place between Messrs.WAITII-
MAN and WonLEa. If any of the whole of these
parties should be successful, what will the %voila
think of the honour and dignity of the great Cities
of WESTMINSTER and LONDON 1

A Canal is in contemplation from Bishop Auck-
land to Boroughbridge. Should this measure
take place, we should then hope the River Wear
would be made navigable from Chester Midge to
Bishop Auebland ; indeed both the rivets. the
Wear and the Tyne, have been greatly neglected,
but especially the latter, not witllstandiog
RENNtE's Report.
The Coal-owners and Ship-owners on the river
Wear have applied to Government for a Reduc-
tion of the Ocer•sea Duty on Coals—and they are,
we understand, also about to apply for a Reduc-
tion of the Coast Duty on that article. It will
give us great pleasure whenever these duties are
given up.
The Bill for the new Consolidation of the Du-
ties of Customs is, we understand, forthwith
to be printed, to afford an opportunity to ti e
Commercial World to consider it during tie
recess.

Rtunour says that at the interview which tie
Doke nf CVAHENCE had vvith iNlinisttrs on me
subject of his marriage with Miss WicKluzl,
they stated the objection that there was to Me
Royal Assent ; but intimated that to an uncut
with a Royal Princess of a Foreign Protestant
House the assent of his Royal Highness the
PRINCR REGENT in Council would be given. ihe
Duke of CLARENCE? consented to
,this arrarge.
mem, and an offer of an alliance with a yont tiul
Princess of Hesse has been transmitted
special Messenger.—(a orning Chronicle )

The QUEEN Vid the Princesses li:LizAgzTtilnd
AUGUSTA are expected at the Palace on or mlont
Friday se'nnight. The Cottage of her 11Jyal
Highness the Pi ineeSS ELIZABETH, in Wintsor
Palk, has been let, and the whole of the stock of
choice wines disposed of.
Yesterday morning the Duke of Yonx left
town for Windsor.

The Prince of masse tiomlll7llG visited the
Duke and Piichess of CUMBERLAND yeSterda.), and
dined with Prince ESTEaHAZV, the AustlianArn-
b3ssador.