Star.
London, England, 1830-01-23 00:00:00

MR. OWEN.

ADDRESS to the MERCHANTS and to the WHOLESALE
and RETAIL TRADERS in GREAT BRITAIN.

The business in which you are engaged is, fortu-
nately for yourselves and society, rapidly drawing to a
termination.

The genuine British merchant is already scarcely to
be found in any part of the world, and the wholesale and
retail trade of tne kingdom will soon be absorbed by a
few great houses, such as Morrison and Co. Leaf and Co.
Ellis, &c. &c. which principle of trade will continue to
obtain until the whole business shall be taken up by
banking bazaars, which will supersede banking, and
every other more expensive and hazardous mode of
representing and distributing throughout society the
wealth of the producers.
It is, doubtless, under existing
pleasant to our feelings, to be obliged to alter our estab-
lished habits, and to seek subsistence by a different direc-
tion of our faculties to that we have been accustomed:
but such a change as that which is about to become un-
avoidable on your part, will, instead of being productive
of injurious results, be ultimately highly beneficial to
yourselves and to the public. It is evident to every
one, that you do not create a particle of wealth for society;
but that, without any adequate compensation to it, or real
benefit to yourselves, you consume, in the support of
useless, showy establishments, a large portion of that
wealth which others produce. The real utility to the
public of all your industry lies in the distribution you may
make of the wealth produced by the industrious classes:
but this your system effects, only at an enormous waste
of that wealth, and at a cost of, perhaps, 99 per cent.
beyond what would be necessary under a rational ar-
rangement of society, to produce and to distribute in the
best manner.

1, nn-

You are, however, blameless ; you have acted under a
system which you did not comprehend—which you could
not direct, but which, on the contrary, has controlled
you. You would not run much less risk, you would be
engaged in occupations greatly more favourable to health
and intelligence, and be less liable to deteriorating mental
and moral influences, were many of you to become pro-
ducers of wealth, under proper arrangements, instead of
being distributors of it, under the very unfavourable cir-
cumstances in which you have hitherto been placed. The
interest and happiness of yourselves and families require
that you should, as speedily as possible, be relieved from
the injurious position in which a most irrational state of
society has placed you—making you almost a dead weight
upon society, and rendering you, by the fanciful, expen-
sive establishments you have thought it beneficial to form,
useless and extravagant consumers of wealth, instead of
being active and intelligent producers of it, which wealth
would have been made to add greatly to your own com-
fort, and to the riches of the public.
It is clearly, Von, for the interest of the British Em-
pire, that there should be, among its population, the
greatest number of intelligent producers, and the fewest
distributors of wealth.

I therefore thus address you, to prepare you for a
change of this description—a change which the increase
of knowledge renders necessary and unavoidable, and
which will contribute more than could any occurrence,
however favourable under the existing system of society,
to the attainment by your class of permanent prosperity
and happiness.
The superior faculties of your nature can never be
called forth under a system which makes it appear to be
your interest to endeavour to buy as cheap, and to
sell as dear as possible. While men are involved in
such practices it is idle to talk of virtue ; as under a sys-
tem which is technically termed fair trading, they do but
endeavour to obtain advantages one over the other—the
more acute or intelligent prevailing over the more ignor-
ant or simple.
In a rational state of society, were you to be as suc-
cessful in obtaining wealth as you are under this system
generally the reverse, your employment would be deemed
useless and degrading. It is a system of vicious competi-
tion, for the purpose of procuring for each family the '
greatest amount, directly or indirectly, of the hard
earnings of the industrious classes. It is a wretched ar-
rangement of society, productive of little good to any,
and of much evil to all.

That such a system should be brought to a speedy ter-
mination, your interest and your happiness clearly re
quire ; and therefore it is expedient that you should
afford all the aid in your power to effect the proposed
change with the least possible delay.
Your friend and former associate

49, Bedford-square, Jan 18.

ROBERT OWEN.

The Journal de Rouen bas the following article :
" The project for opening a canal from Rouen to Paris
seems likely to be carried into execution. We are as..
sured that the plans and designs have been already trans-
mitted to the chief authorities of the department. The
expence is estimated at upwards of sixty millions of
francs, which would indicate that the canal is to be ex-
ecuted on a very large scale. If we are rightly informed,
It is intended that vessels of 200 tons' burthen should be
able to proceed to Paris. For certain parts of the canal
advantage will be taken of the bed of the Seine, which
will be widened and deepened. For other parts, cuts will
be made, in order to avoid the windings of the river and
difficult passages. Even if this gigantic project should
not be realised, it is certain that the navigation of the
Upper Seine is to be improved. It is not yet said whether
the works from Rouen to Honaeur are to be executed ;
but these seem a necessary consequence of the others,
and capitalists to undertake them would certainly be
found, either at Rouen or elsewhere."

COLUMBIA.
TO THE THE EDITOR OF THE STAR.
LETTER XXIV.
Bogor*, Oct. 14, ISM

Si a—The high police and criminal justice, " those
two tutelary institutions of social order and public peace,"
are very far from having obtained in Columbia any
degree of perfection. The first, which should pursue
the attempts, and macLinations against the internal tran-
quillity by securing the delinquents and delivering them
over to the judicial power, scarcely can be said to exist.
The second is very dilatory in its administrative proceed-,
Inge. The laws are intricate, and, by their entangle-
ment, cause great prejudice in criminal, as well as in the
civil cases. This is another of the sorry legacies be-
queathed us by the legislation of Spain, and the conse-
quence of not having promulgated our own civil and penal
code.

In the midst of all the misfortunes of Columbia, the
army has preserved its glory untainted, and its love of
country has continued to shine with the same splendour
as in the first days of the Republic.
With very few exceptions, under peculiar circum-
stances, it has been the ornament and pillar of our in-
dependence, and of order, and we owe to it— Country
and Government. History will consecrate the names of
the many illustrious warriors who have contributed to
the glory of Columbia, and whose conduct has been
distinguished by so many virtues.
Nevertheless, even in this branch, various reforms are
also necessary, especially in the administrative parts,
where a great want of method and economy prevails.
Our army is mostly composed of persons who embraced
in very early life the profession of arms, and who have
not had the opportunity to improve their minds and culti-
vate general knowledge ; hence some individuals enter-
tain exaggerated pretensions, •are ever desirous of in-
tervening in political and state affairs, and are prone to
make of the armed force, a sword of Democles.

With this exception, the Columbian army has given
the most exemplary proofs of endurance, disinterested-
ness, and devotedness; often totally destitute, frequently
wanting absolute necessaries, ill paid, ill clothed, ill
provided—it has yet always been faithful to the cause of
the country, has every day acquired fresh titles to national
gratitude, and possesses the most incontestible right to
be recompensed by the Government, us soon as the
public prosperity permits those rewards to be distributed
which justice has already put on record.
Thanks to HLAV EN I have now concluded the painful
task of examining the internal state, and foreign relations
of Columbia. My heart has ached every time that I was
compelled to take from my palette those black colours
which I was obliged to use, when delineating the moral
physiognomy of our people. There are patriots who will,
perhaps, be offended at my not having dissimulated some
of its lineaments; others, more sanguine in their views,will
accuse me of having painted our situation in too dark
hues ; but I believe that I have strictly fulfilled my duty, by
not violating the truth, and by not asserting or suppressing
any thing that might cause, or connive at error. Of
what use is it to write, if the torch of truth may not
be lighted which should show clearly to the nation
all that was interesting for it to become acquainted
with? Do evils exist the less because they are
covered with a veil? and if they be not examined and
exposed, how is it possible to apply any remedies?
But if my description of the present state of things be
calculated to afflict us, do not let it be supposed that I
see in this state, any thing out of the natural order, or
that I despond as to the future. If we open the annals
of the nations which have preceded us in the course of
ages—if we reflect on the many generations which have
passed away--on the many distinct races which have
disappeared from the earth, without enjoying a pros-
perous social state, we must agree that a multitude of
favourable circumstances, and an extraordinary amount
of fortuitous intelligences, are necessary to favour the
introduction of light into the popular classes, to disperse
the mists of ignorance, and to perfect political science.
We shall find that the cause of the slow progress made
by men in their moral improvement, is to be ascribed to
their natural indolence, the attachment which they have
to contracted habits, to the blind respect they entertain
for those prejudices which they have imbibed in their
infancy, as well as to the difficulties opposed to their
amelioration and instruction, by classes which are in-
terested in keeping them in subjection under the triple
yoktrof ignorance, despotism, and superstition.
If from the records that we have indicated as contain-
ing the important story of the life of nations, it should
appear that other people, more happily situated, and as-
sisted by circumstances more favourable, have made but
slow advances in the path of improvement, is it to be
wondered at that Columbia should have committed faults
in her political infanc, and that he should have stag-
gered on her road between i
the nfluences of light and
darkness ? The history of antiquity, of the middle ages,
and of all modern people, offer sufficient examples of
vicissitudes and errors. Even France and Great Britain,
what did they not undergo before they could consolidate
their institutions? In the United States of America, after
the war of independence, we saw agitations, dis-
turbances, heated factions, and insurrections in some
provinces, although under the Presidentship of the
virtuous, and prudent WASHINGTON. Was not the
general Government on the point of being overthrown ?
was not the Union threatened, after thirty-eight years
of existence ?
lam satisfied that the evils of Columbia are but tem-
porary, and I have no doubt she will triumph over them,
because she possesses in herself a great inherent vital
power. If the Constituent Congress and the LIBERA-
TOR apply, as I have no doubt they will, the remedies
which the public weal demand, we shall shortly see its
prosperity re-established, and those elements of good,
which hay* been hitherto compressed, will develope them-
selves. Countries like ours, " which are engemmed with
emeralds, amethysts, cinaber, platina, iron, copper, and
lead—countries where we tread on gold and silver—
countries which produce all the wealth of the vegetable
kingdom, such as vanilla, coffee, tobacco, silk, cotton,
quasi*, cacao, and cochineal," cannot be poor. after the day
they determine to be industrious. Material improvement
will aid moral improvement, and abundance will intro-
, duce reforms into our social and political customs and
habits.
In Columbia, favoured in the greater part of her ter-
ritory by that tranquil sone which Vino IL describes " as
most suitable for the habitation of man," the smiling
aspect of a beauteous Nature will contribute to exalt
and nourish the imagination. The spirit of men will
kindle, consolatory acts will disseminate their flowers, the
sublime sciences will take root, and all the rays of genius
will shed their lustre. Industry will receive a powerful
impulse—we shall our products to Pent mid
Guyana, to Para aned7ordi Americo, to Africa and
Europe. Civilisation, the daughter of Time, and pro-
tectress of nations, will extend her empire to the shores
of both Oceans, will pour forth from fall hands, all her
benefits over the country of heroism, AND Tun wept
or BOLIVAR.
GARCIA DEL MO.

WATTS v. LAWSON.
The following is the letter-of Mr. WATTS, 1.0 which we
referred yesterday :
SIR—My attention has only thisday been directed to
an article in a late number of your journal, under the above
head, which professes to have been copied from the Times,
and which contains some very gross misrepresentations
on the subject of the late trial. The original remarks,
coupled as they were with a report of the evidence, what
flatly contradicted them, appeared to me to require no
comment ; as, however, you have thought proper to
transfer them to your columns, you will not, I presume,
(unless your notions of justice resemble those of the
editors of the Times), refuse insertion to my reply..
It is not true that the editors or publishers of the
Tines, or any of their servants, " offered to insert with
pleasure" the " long letter read at the trial, so far as it
pretended to correct the report of what took place at the
police-office." In consequence of their refusal to insert
the letter subscribed with my name, and afterwards pub-
lished in several other newspapers, upon the pretence
that they had nothing to do with the truth or falsehood
of the imputations made at the police office, another
statement was prepared by Mr. Emerson, confined almost
entirely to the correction of the misrepresentations, ex-
aggerations, and omissions of the report. After striking
out nearly all that could have rendered such an explana-
tion effective (on the novel ground that if " they al-
lowed their reporter to be contradicted he would be for
ever disqualified from appearing at a police-oflice again,")
and prefixing to the fragments which then remained
the word "ADVERTISEMENT," they informed Mr.
Emerson that they should require ten guineas for its pub-
lication (altered and modified as it had been by thorn-
selves ;) and in reply to a further application respecting
it to Mr. Murray (a reputed editor and proprietor of the
Times) he was informed by a letter from that gentleman
that the statement could only be inserted as an adver-
tisement ; and that he could not order its insertion with-
out being himself responsible for the payment of the
money (ten guineas) demanded for that privilege. The
letter was returned the next morning, abridged and
altered throughout, and with the word " advertisement"
prefixed to it. This document, and the letter from Mr.
Murray (the existence of which the editors of the Times
seem to have forgotten,) you are at perfect liberty to in-
spect if you think proper so to do.
It will be seen, therefore, that the remark of the learned
Judge was well founded, and did not " spring out of either
a misrepresentation or misapprehension of the plaintiff's
witnesses." The assertions of the editors of the Times,
that they could have proved the correctness of their ac-
counts if their able counsel had deemed it expedient, is
almost too ridiculous for notice. After procuring the
postponement of the trial, at great expense to themselves
and inconvenience to me, upon the pretence of the ab-
sence of a material witness, they call no witness at all ;
but content themselves with the defence that they "wished
to cast no imputation on me ; that all that I had done was
consistent with honour, and that there was, therefore, no
imputation upon me." This declaration, and the learned
Judge's opinion that the defendant had not only failed to
support his plea of justification, but that the plaintiff's
evidence had " negatived certain parts of it, which, in
his Lordship's judgment, reflected upon the plaintiff's
character,' will (with the verdict of the Jury) afford
abundant answer to the gross insinuations above referred
to —I am, Sir, your obedient servant,
Torrington-square, Jan. 19. A LARIC A. WATTS.

WEST LONDON THEATRE.

THE CITY PANTHEON.

The minor and private theatres are running a race
with those of higher pretensions ; and they are not only
entitled to the encouragement of the public on account of

being less expensive, but for the fair proportion of talent
displayed by the performers. The boards of these minors
are now not unfrequently graced by actors that have figured
with applause in the larger theatres ; and whose powers of
pleasing are equal to many who look with scorn on their
humble exertions. The West London grows daily in
celebrity ; and under its present mantgement will, no
doubt, prove as gratifying to its visitors as comfortable to
the enterprising parties engaged in it. For some evenings
back the new Melo-drama of the Field of Forty Footsteps
increased in attraction, and certainly not without reason,
for it is really a well-conceived and effective piece ; some
scenes are intensely interesting, though neither over-
wrought nor unnatural. The marriage contract in the
last act is perhaps the best. Miss A. TIME'S conception
of what we would call the tragedy of passion, for such it
is, rather surprised even her oldest observers. Vie two's
acting is as excellent as Mrs. WAY LETT'S is amusing.
There is, indeed, a pleasing diversity in the whole of the
characters, which adds to the interest of the piece.
The City Pantheon is an histrionic School of a dif-
ferent order, in which students, subscribers, and amateurs,
are at liberty to unfold and display their talents for the
drama, without those restraints wbich impose fetters on
the performers and audiences in places of a higher
order: When the public are informed for the first
tirte—for we never observed that the place was noticed be-
fore—that the Pantheon is situate in the classic recesses
of Grub-street, it need not be added that there is some
attractive metal to be found there. In a recent visit we
found it a place in which were collected

Noble, simple, all coodithms,
Lawyers, poets, priests, physicians I
The performance was Pizarro, with the musical altar-
piece of Rosiaa ; and with some slight exception. in the
memories of the unpractised—for which a due apology
was made—there really was nothing to laugh at
or blame in the whole evening's entertainment.—
The novices are assitted here by a few players of
some standing and fair fame. Among these, it is but
just to mention Mrs. CitAwronv, whore performance u
Elvira was most deservedly applauded. The company at
the Pantheon are deeply indebted to this lady for her able
assistance ; and her friends, both in town and in the pro-
vinces, will be gratified to learn that she ably sustained
her well-earned reputation on the evening in question.
It would not be fair to close this imperfect notice of the
Pantheon without reference to the scenery, which is
painted and got up by Mr. BCDTORD, truly in a very
exquisite manner. The house, which is calculated to
contain about 1,500 persons, was crowded to excess.

It may be proper enough to entreat Ministers to con-
sider the posture of national affairs, to hold county
meetings, and frame petitions to Parliament for the repeal
of oppressive taxes. Some good is sure to spring from
careful investigation and fair discussion; but who reaps
the advantage ? While politicians are disputing as to the
causes of the present distress, -and opposite partite are
throwing the blame of the deproseion of wade. and the
.sanity of MO:My, one upon the other ; while even &-
interested and ispassionate anatomists—for such, we
hope, there are,—earnestly endeavour to trace the canoe
of the disown in Ito elects, the wink of destruction is
proceeding ; and, whatever may be the result as to the
body politic, to many of its mambas their researches are
windy &post-mortem eaaminatiOn.—Chrittim Advocate

SEVERITY OF THE IVEATHER.

So- Wense was the cold on Monday night last, that
Fahrenheit** tjhormoineteiv (in die, garden of a gentleman
residing in this town) fail to sat degrees, being 26 below
the freezing point.—Cmairidge Chronicle.
In consequence of the very heavy fall of snow, four
or five of the coaches, from different parts of the country,
were unable to reach this lowa on Wednesday last, and
those that did arrive were in mend long after their
usual hour. The snow has drifted so considerably in
several parts of the Norfolk road as to be above six feet
high, in consequence of which the Swaff ham coach was
drawn one stage beyond Brandon by eight waggon
horses.—Cambridge Chronicle.
Monday night the London mail did not arrive till seven
minutes past seven o'clock, P.m. being more than three
hours and a half beyond its usual time. It seems that
Sunderland-bridge the horses suddenly ran off, by which
the coach was overturned, and the harness so much de-
stroyed, that the coachman had to return to Durham for
a fresh supply before the mail could proceed. There were
no passengers, and we understand the guard and coach -
man escaped with little or no injury.—Edinburgh Paper.
The following extracts from the Paris Papers show
that the unusual severity of the season experienced in
England, is common to all Europe :
The cold is excessive in Hungary. They have not
experienced the like in that country within the last
twenty years.
The communications between the cities of Rotterdam
and Dordrecht, were, in the beginning of this month,
maintained by sledges on the ice. In the former of these
cities a fair was held upon the Meuise.—Le National.
The Memorial des Pyrenees of the 12th instant, states,
that within the memory of man so severe a Minter has not
been felt in these countries. '1 he bread, the meat, the
eggs, freeze in the apartments. The ground is so Lard,
the grave-diggers being unable to open it to inter the
dead, the coffins arc left without burial until the thaw.

Letters of the same date from Neuchatel (Switzerland)
state that the Lake is frozen front Iverdon to Grandoue
to about nine inches in thickness. It extends along the
lake to a distance of two miles front the shore. A linter,
laden with wine, was caught in the ice, at several hun-
dred paces from the bank. Fears being entertained that
the wine would be frozen, an attempt was made to bring.
it ashore by means of sledges, drawn by horses harnessed
with very long ropes. The attempt completely succeeded,
and all the casks were landed. The bargemen reside on
board, and go on foot to the town to purchase provisions.
It is a long time since a like phenomenon has been wit
nessed there.

The course of the waters being impeded bye the ice, this
consequence has been, that in the department of the
Eastern Pyrenees, a great portion of the fields, and even
of the roads, presents nothing but a sheet of ice.
At Angouleme, the subscriptions for the relief of the
poor, amounted, on the 7th of this month, to 4,398 francs.
In a great number of the towns of France, subscriptions
for the same purpose are opened, and fill rapidly. The
severity of the winter is such, that in a great many places
great numbers of unfortunate people would perish of cold
and destitution, if the public benevolence did not come to
their support. The Departmental Journals cite many in-
stances of persons who have perished by the cold.
A letter dated Madrid, 31st December, says, " The
cold is so extraordinary at this moment that the thermo-
meter of Reaumur is nine degrees below Zero, a circum-
stance which never before hapren:d in the memory of
man. The same degree of cold is felt in the provinces ;
and accounts from Bilboa state that swans have Leen
seen there, an occurrence extremely rare in the Penin-
sula. Several sentinels and carriers have perished fri.m
cold ; and the French Mail, which should have arrived
on the morning of the 28th, is not yet come in. The
cold has caused much sickness.
The total superfices of the streets and places of Paris,
is estimated at 3,000,000 metres. The cleansing of si
considerable an extent of ground, presents great *didicul-
ties which are every year in proportion to the severity of
the season. In the course of the months of January and
February, 1826, the administration expended on extra-
ordinary days work labourers and carts to break, raise,
and carry away the ice, a sum of 150,000 francs. It
the course of the months of January, February, and
March, 1827, a sum of 163,000 francs was applied to
this purpose. From 1827 to 1828, there was uo winter.
In the course of the months of January, February, sad
March, 1829, a sum of 196,000 francs was expended Ott
this service. On the 6th of December, 1829, the thermo-
meter had fallen to 44 degrees, and on the 14th the cold
became still more intense. On the 17th, 19tp,
and 20th, there fell, without interruption, a much
more considerable quantity of snow than in any
preceding year, and recourse was had to extraordinary
means. In fine the expense of breaking and carrying
away the ice amounted to 146,000 francs. Thus then
the sum expended for this purpose in the single month of
December, 1829, has been nearly as considerable as that
laid out during the two or three month.' of each of the win-
ters of 1226 and 1827, and during the three first menthe
of 1829.—Le National.

The Rhone is frozen at the Bridge St. Esprit. The
like did not happen these fifty years. A soldier of the
regiment of Hohenlohe lately crossed the riser on foot.
Figaro.
The cold is excessive at Perpignan, in the neighbbir-
hood of which a river, having lately burst its batiks; a
Iflock of 200 sheep was found, perished in the ice !

The Pyrenees have been for some time impassable by
carriages of every kind, owing to the frost, and the mails
are conveyed by men on foot or on horseback. The letters
contain nothing worthy of notice, except tho intensity of
the cold at Cadiz, where they have had three degrees'ef
frost by Reaumur's male, equal to 2Li of Fahrenheit.
Such a circumstance bad not occurred within the raesnefiry
of the oldest inhabitant. Frost is so unusual et Ca4i4,
that even ice hes not been seen since the year 171 k, a
period of 37 years.

A translation of Moona's Life of Lord By RoR 'is
preparing for publication in Paris.
The spot on which the coin containing the sacr4ll
remains of the lamented Sir Tuumas LA wnrac.p. iw
deposited is in the south-eastern vault, adjoining the
cemeteries of the deceased's predecessors, Wrwr, It iv-
WoLDS, BARRY, and OYU, and within a few yurdi cf
the tomb of Sir Cutters:sem IA WREN.
The state of the streets is quilt shaißefel. It secn4l
seem as if those who have the direction of such matters
had determined to leave to the slow process of the
and thaw, that which the inhabitants pay so largely fur
having oe by human labeur.—Morning Herald. • • -

NNW FARDINGDON NAIUtZT—THIS DAY. .
Them 'ruin menses supply of Ilse mess km ttuday..44lb.
umbel Imo very respectahly amide& bless pit Th.
diotowb
Dss4—R•sedag pens. diL sad M. CANdesokstata.. . "y.
4d. sad 4s. Squid quantity. Is. Row 1114..._ P 4
Rine of Due, W. Wayless Illeme-..lll.sider. If* ..
ed• is. did. Ne 41.444. Own. 41. ,d. 411 0464* W.
to U. Pass (cosatry kd)-1144.14 7d.
• 'ln *a use Airs went Vessiellii ill hake tat •
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