Star.
London, England, 1831-01-08 00:00:00

In March, 1732, from 20s. to 221. p equ atter.
May 22a. to 26a.

Thus we see that the allowance of wages made to the labourer at that
time exceeded the value of two bushels of wheat per week. It remains
to be shewn whether this standard of two bushels of wheat has been de-
parted from since the year above quoted, up to the period which has
been assumed, namely thirty or forty years ago. More recently, indeed,
it has undergone a grievous reduction, inasmuch, as in the year 1825, if
I am rightly informed, the price of labour was 91. per week, and that of
the bushel of wheat the same. The average prior of wheat at present is,
1 believe, rather more than 7s. ed. per bushel. Now I would ask if
the average price of wages in many parts of the country has much ex.
ceded that sum during the past year ? Indeed, I am credibly informed,
that at this moment the rate of wages in a parish in Suffolk is only 71.
ed. per week to a labourer with a family. And the Tines of the 30th
Dec. in its remarks on the late trials under the special commissions,
states that the poor men appear generally to have been ill paid. If
these are facts, may we not fairly conclude that the labourer's condition
is materially worse at present than it was in 1732, since from the in-
stance in Suffolk it appears that he is only receiving the value of one
bushel of wheat for his labour instead of two. And I think it may be
asserted that so considerable a reduction in the wages of those who form
so large a portion of the population of the country, has been
the chief cause of the general distress, or of that diminu-
tion of the amount of money in circulation, which is sup.
posed to have occasioned it. But has not the poor man been
deprived, not only of his bushel of wheat per week, but also of the piece
of land which was attached to his cottage ? Let those who contend
that he has not suffered in his condition for the last thirty OT forty years
answer this. So far from admitting their position we contend that he
has been the greatest sufferer of all. On his unprotected head the
storm has beat with all its fury. Being more strictly attached to the
soil than any other class, no way of escape was left open to him. As he
stood at the bottom of the scale, he has bad to sustain through every
change the accumulated tome of all the difficulties of the landed in-
terest. Whilst other branches of industry have been improving, the
condition of the soil las been declining with that of the husbandman,
and its powers of production have, as a necessary consequence, been
materially injured. And whilst the nation herself has been rising in
external wealth and splendour, the greatness at which she has arrived
can only be viewed as sickly and artificial. For all this time her
native strength, which consists in a well employed and contented popu-
lation, hart been rapidly hastening to decay. How forcibly does such
a state of things remind us of the lines of the poet :
11l fares the land by luxury betray d,
In nature's simplest chasms at first array's';
But verging to decline, its splendour's rise,
Its vistas strike, its palaces surprise.
While, seourg'd by famine from the smiling land,
The mounting peasant leads his humble band,
And while be sinks, without oae arm to save,

-----
T e country blooms—a garden and a grave.
Dec. 31, 1830. • AN KNOLISH M AN.

DISCOVERY OF DES. N•LEOD.

It may be remembered that, three or four weeks ago, a
good deal of anxiety was occasioned by statements respecting
the sudden and mysterious disappearance of a lady, by the
reward of 501. having been offered for the discovery of the
lady, or for any information respecting her, and by the subse-
quent publication of certain anonymous letters, &c. which
it was stated, had occasioned t►e lady's hasty departure from
her family, then residing at Havre. According to the corre-
spondence and statements, the lady turned out to be a Mrs.
M'Leod,. a lady of considerable beauty and accomplishments,
and having a young family; but into whose mind the anony-
mous correspondent succeeded in infusing so much jealousy
as to make the lady soddenly quit Havre for England, where
her husband then was, to watch his proceedings. Having
arrived here, she gained no information ; but after going
from hotel to hotel, she wee required to be in the Re-
, gent's-park, where she was beckoned by a lady in a
green carriage, into which carriage she got, and after
which, all clue as to where she went was lost. Till
within these three or four days, all remained a painful
mystery. At length, however, the lady wee discovered at
a house in Parliament-street, but in a terrible state of
mind. Why, having ascertained that the anonymous cor-
respondent bad imposed on the confidence raised by the let-
cars which brought the lady to England, she should remain
so long in secret, remains a mystery ; and though efforts
were made to gain information, it is mentioned that the state,
of the. lady's mind was sub as to preclude inquiries being
at present preased,—?gases.