Star.
London, England, 1830-01-12 00:00:00

TO HIS GRACE
THE DUKE OF WELLINGTON.

HT LOAD Dinto—Notwithatanding my belief that your Grace
is annoyed by the almost infinite variety of opinions that are ob-
truded on your attendee, in reference to the present state of the
country, I cannot refrain from laying before you some observa-
tions 4if my own, which I do in the hope that they will be found
to possess novelty sad interest suilicieet to secure for them your
Grates attentive consideration. &Imitated by sympathy for the
numerous living skeletons which present themselves in our streets,
end for the incomparably greater number of them wins are secreted
in the abodes of poverty, rendered desolate by speculative political
expeditions, I am induced its take this step. from an earnest desire
to pate and to participate in the benefits that would follow
piestzmoreisilghtened and efketual system et policy. I feel
Irt taking who liberty, from the- conecieselea of having
bestowed compiderable labour of thought ci thrsekjects which so
necessarily absorb your Grace's attention. The remelt of my in-
quiries is, a firm conviction that the most powerful causes of ex-
isting caiatnitks have not been compassed by the mural of those
who buy pressed forward their opinions on public atteotioo. The
consequences arc, proposals of remedies whirl, if applied, would
be found to be unadapted and inadequate.
In deference to the arduous duties of your Grace's important
station, I shall avoid further preamble, and proceed to prove, by
various modes of illustradon,
Ist. That kgidation, In its combined inlvence on the great la-
eeeee ts of society, has of late years proceeded on mistaken princi-
ples. Hence the prevailing calamities.
211. Show. from authentic documents, the extent to which dune
interests have been effected by the changes that have taken place
item given periods.

id. Point out remedies which are equitable, practicable. and
Aden, in contradistloction from the speculative, puerile, or d-
imwit' ones, promulgated by men who have takes pada* views
of the object, and conclude by examining and answering *plaids
tending to operate as objections.
I have arrived at the conclusion, that legislation has proceeded
on mistaken principles; ant, because I know of no principle. in
human nature on which to &nitwit for calamities of such a nature
and tendency as those that prevail as proceeding from design, and it
is liberal, at least, to believe tbat legislators in general advocate only
those masons which will best promote the public good. The mistakes
themselves mainly arise from the facts that the subjests necessary
to be undentood (in order to legislate with that knowledge which
will always precede action with those who act wisely,) are too vast
in magnitude and too complicated to be grappled with even by
the most powerful minds, except by one process, that of arithme-
tical illustration. This is a path of enquiry too much neglected
by legislators. and where it has been pursued, as far as I have bees
able to observe, it has not been followed out sulkiest to enable
them to arrive at sound declosions.

There also exists an unfortunate disposition which is the
by may of the influendal, to treat with manparadve indlierenee
the interests and condition of the trading sad industrious classes.
This is in the highest degree unphilampkital In every political
paint of view, and tt is most cingeoeroiss. It is imphilosophical,
because, without a very intimate acquaintance wit► the principles
which atom the production, interchange, and distribution at wealth,
(subjects on which, though much pretension is abroad, yet no cons.
mensurate powers and opinions have been brought to bear by
publis men) it is impossible that kiletatoce can know bow bene-
ficially to direct the unexampled resources d this country, which,
if wisely directed, would, from their extent, seeurc, nett to the
humblest of the useful classes, and to all others in isroportion, an
'mutant of enjoyment beyond all precedent in the history °tendons.
It is a fact, most unaccountably disregarded by public men, that
the physical resources of the country are • dependent on the genius
and industry of the great mass of the people, which of late years
have increased so much as to enable them so achieve *Wan any.
object which it is in the power of human agency to accomplish
The extent of their productive power .is the only natural limit of
the nation's means of enjoyment, and would have heal the only
real limit, bad the scknce of government kept pace in its advance
with those of chemistry, mechanism, and the healing art, by means
of which so much public good has been, and might be, promoted.

It sever before fell to the lot of riders to have suck vast re-
sources under their contrail; yet, for want • of sound views, the
increeeing means of natioesal 'ream= have.. ender their directions
been converted into instruments of extensive individual calamity ;
casts. rotly, that admiration and esteem, which a wise system of
government Could not fail to KCVO, gives place to discontent and
distrust. Were the whole productive powers of the country em-
ployed, the existing embarrassments of the trading, and the pries-
tiara of the industrious classes, might be attribeted to design on the
put of legislators ; because. in that case, there could be no addi-
tion so the enjoyments of the most destitute. bet by mans of a
diminution of those of the influential in a convipeoding proportion.
The facia so much misery being endured for the wants of the
necessary articles of support, at a time when so much productive
power is unemployed, is that circumstance which above .every
other justifies the inference that legislation is proceeding en mis-
taken principles; because, it Is scarcely possible to conceive, that
the vast accession of wealth that would reasiefrons the whole pro-
docile. power of the country being employed, Paid take place
without a pardcipatioa in some way or otheri Is she that
wouli fallow by those who legislate.
In contemplating the vast memoir of inielidiee power in
Grewliritain of late years, the very fine me* inquiry that would
present itself to an intelligent mind, would be into the principles
by which distribution could be rendered co-extensive with the in-
creased power to produce. The solution of such an enquiry.
forms the mod desideratum of knowledge in the present visit of
our national affairs. The only principle open which =eh a dia.
tribution can be effected, is one that meld have the effect. a
lowering the price of the necessaries of life, without lowering the
money wages of labour. er otherwise of riling the mosey
wages of labour without rabbi the pries of costuneditles.
This is a position that is humiliating to the pride of this. who
estimate their owe consequence in society, met so numb ,W
the mike of the meld virtues with their enlarged possessires
fed influestee, as by the comparative denreatioa of the main of
the people surrounding them. But it is was that delve the power
of controversy, and yet it is impossible ens to Ilene, at the. he-
fume. of modern legislation in reference up base points withem a
thorough medalists. that it has hem oansteneted on principles s,,
it efts the detennisate peeps of precludeg• dee opposite results .
kis se these mistaken principles that is to be ascribed the prima-
tes talarnitia, and while ends priadples bedew to operate, k b
not in the power of human *pat, to combos* such talemitin.'
Fteriee every miserable subterfuge le ceseeted in br nee who have
not faculty, heeve, sad reeekeibm enough team die abiding eels.
isles* peeper emus. • ilageq,.rasra. the elliradat dorattklacral no
I-tiowirara pragesbdeth eed fep.,.roduoden. vsbieb .lee she. plusii
a,ftepring /*rads too ilsel IM debesederar bra indolest, foi okeir
ekorres ireidedSop. sii( b; Uilijkliettsieb le them a.
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