Star.
London, England, 1831-07-06 00:00:00

WEDNESDAY EVENING, JULY 6, 1831.

N°. 13,828.

THE REVEI
ABSTRACT of the NET PRODUCE of the RETENI
stb July, 1113; distinguishl

10th Ott.
1829.

CUSTOMS
EXCISE ..
STA M PS
Taxes under the Management of the Commissioner
_ of Taxes, including Arrears of Property

Post Office
One Shilling and Sixpence and Four Shillings in the
Pound on Pensions .
Hackney Coaches, sad Hawkers and Pedlars ..
Crown Lands
Small Branches of the King's Hereditary Revenue
Surplus Fees, Regulated Public Offices

Total Ordinary Revenue
Imprest Lid other Monies

Total Revenue

Applied to Consolidated Fund
To pay off Exch. Bills charged on Annual Duties
Applied as part of the Ways and Means of the ye

Total ...

ABSTRACT of the NET PRODUCE of
sth July, 11

CUSTOMS
EXCISE
STAMPS
Tales under the Management of the Commissioners
of Taxes, including Arrears of Property ..
Post Office ...
ls. 6d. and 45. in the Pound on Pensions
Hackney Coaches, and Hawkers and Pedlars ..
Crown Lands
Small Branches of the Ring's Hereditary Revenue
Surplus Fees, Regulated Public Offices ......

Total Ordinary Revenue
Imprest and other Monies.. CD.. • •

Total Revenue....

Applied to Consolidated Fund ...... .....
To pay off Exch. Bills charged on Annual Duties
Applied as part of the Ways and Means of the Year

Total ..

5,028,656
5,268,237
1,747,698

501,306
358,000

16,174
111,116

S
1,145

12,940,346
143,531

13,083,877

8,745,425
1,716,749
2,6'21,705

13,083,877

REVENI

10th Oct.
1630.

5,069,349
5,118,635
1,701,378

531,175
370,006
9,762
17,300

3,547

12,821,172
73,871

12,895,043

8,593,957
1,851,637
2,449,449

12,895,043

E of GREAT BRITAIN, in the Tear ended
the Quarters.
QUARTERS ENDSO
sth Jan. I Sth Aped,
1830. 1830.

X.
3,851,876
4,869,022
1,558,573

2,017,075
321,000

11,639
29,080

2,095
23,445

12,683,805
5,709

1g,689,514

,C.
3,51 8,521
3,1 113,771
1,626,751

374,903
347,000

11,9:
4,5;

;202

9,073,0931
32,344

9,105,657;

Stb July,
18So.

5,955,995
X. I
5,757,150
1,691,471

2,045,
511,

•
1,918
15,5541

11,828,439;
10,270,

1103380

Y6AR
ended
July 3. MO.

.e.
16,385,049
17,063,179
6,624,501
4.938,561
1,337,000

51,690
60,795

4,220
40,574

46,525,683
192,054

46,7 l 7,737

7,065,032
1,251,039
4,375,443

29,616,365
3,015,646
14,085,726

7,232,0611 6,575,847
47,838; ... I
1,825.718, 5,262,862,
9,105,637; 11,838,709,
'E. of GREAT BRITAIN, in the Year ended
ti the Quarters.
QUARTERS ENDED
sth Jan. I sth April,
I 1831. I 1831.

12,689,514

sth July,
1831.

3,769,495
4,831,220
1,535,683

2,062,030
330,005
17,437
28,235

46,717,737

TEAL
ended
July 5, 1831

.e.
3,713,386
2,362,607
1,587,043

2,533
25,153

3,754,861
3,33g,09!
1,630,101

325,523
339,000
14,272
4,308

1
8,075

16,307,295
15.644059
6,504,213

2,016,981
. 358,006

11,372
12,300

4,935,709
1,397,017
52,863
62,143

12,651,991
8,043

12,660,034

8,354,215
11,113

7,994,131
1,018,592
3,647,311

1,49(

4,030
36,775

12,660,054

5,146,787
139,617
3,078,924

PRICE SEVENPENCE.

agricultural produce, and were in fact grounded and sup-
ported upon those high, monied prices. Even during the
existence of these high monied prices, the high monied rents
would nearly requite the whole produce of the earth to dis-
charge them : but supposing the high monied prices to be
reduced one half, it is then certain the payment of the same
monied rents would require more than the whole produce of I
the earth, and of course could not possibly be long effected.
Now, if these high mottled prices had been protected values,
that is to say. if the strong hand of the law had interfered to
guarar tee to the farmers the same monied prices as formerly,
then it is clear that the farmers could still have continued to
pay their high monied rents with the same ease as they did
during the war. The monied rents or really protected va-
lues,
which are guaranteed by the law, would still have borne
the same proportion to the whole produce of the earth as they
bore during the war,and thereahre the farmers could still have
discharged them with the same ease. But unfortunately the
Government of this country, listening to the advice of theo-
rists and lawyers, who have read all books but the great
book of life, and who have been so occupied in studying
their own abstract and antiquated theories, that they have
omitted to notice the progress of things under their own eyes ;
I say, the Government of this country, listening to the
advice of theorists and lawyers, have proceeded to render
all these high monied prices of agricultural produce con-
vertible into gold at the low prices of gold which existed before
the war ! They have removed the causes to the action of
which these high monied prices owed their existence ; but
they have not removed the protected values which were
charged upon them ! The consequence of all this is, that
the monied prices of agricultural produce are necessarily re-
duced again to about one-half of their former amount, or to
nearly the level which existed before the war ; and of course,
the protected values swallow up the whole ! These dia.
tressed farmers, or Ribbonmen, are now literally compelled
to pay greater monied sums for the rents of their lands, than
the whole produce of their lands will sell for ! But the poor
ignoran, creatures know nothing of the fatal principle which
is thus imposing upon them a task beyond the powers of
nature to fulfil: they writhe and agonize under the pressure
of the old metallic standard of value ; but, instead of direct-
ing their legitimate exertions, in a constitutional way, to the
overthrow of that standard, they turn their mortal rancour

against the laws which enforce it.
This, Sir, is the whole mystery of the proceedings of the
ibbon-men. We find, from the resolutions of the land-
holders of the county of Galway, and from various notices
and papers which the Ribbon.men themselves post up, that
their objects are, first, to compel the landholders and middle.
men to reduce their monied rents : secondly, to compel the
farmers and others not to pay more than certain fixed
rents : thirdly, to compel farmers and others not
to pay less than certain wages ; and, fourthly, to
compel the labourers not to receive less than certain
wages. It is by these means that the Ribbon-men, far..
mere and lalmu , attempt on the one had to force dos n
the protected values which they have to pay, within the
range of the present reduced prices of their pro-
duce ; and on the other band, to force up the
wages of labour so as to enable the labourers to support ex.
licence. The depression of prices occasioned by the attempt to
restore the old metallic standardof value, has broken the backs
and the hearts of the farmers. They arc compelled
to pay double monied vents, and double monied taxes and
debts of all kinds, out of half the monied means which they
possessed when they contracted to pay such rents, debts, and
taxes; and therefore it is utterly impossible for them to pay
them. The same depression of prices which has thus ruined
the farmers of Ireland, not by thousands merely, but literally
by tens of thousands, has of course forced them to discharge
their miserable labourers, and to cripple the humble corn.
forts which they formerly enjoyed. It is thus that both
farmers and labourers have all united 3n their efforts to over.
turn Um low.. Th.. law, no longer offind protection to
either, but, on the contrary, exact contributions from the
former, which they are utterly unable to fulfil; and take the
very ground from under the feet of the latter, by preventing
the possibility of their employers' making profit by employ-
ing them. It is no wonder, therefore, that Ireland exhibits
a mass of discontent and disaffection, from one extremity to
the other. The yoke of society is made too heavy for so-
ciety to bear, and therefore society becomes agitated and con.
',wised, and all its elements are shaking to dissolution. If
the same effects have not been visible in England, it is
because the farmers of England are a cultivated and
civilized race of men, and have been enabled to rest upon '
their capital during several years of depression and distress,
in which the same ruinous principle has been at work
among them.
But men who take narrow and superficial views will say,
" Why do not the landholders of Ireland reduce their monied
rents correspondently with the reduction of the monied
prices of agricultural produce, which the attempt to restore
the old metallic standard of value has occasioned ?"
The landholders have contracted monied debts, taxes, and
engagements upon these high monied rents, and they
have formed their establishments and expenditure upon
them : they are, therefore sufficiently short of money,
even if they continue to receive their full rents, but if
they are compelled to reduce them one half, they must
necessarily break up their whole establishments, and throw
their labourers and dependants upon the public : they are,
therefore, compelled to exact the payment of their full mo-
nied rents, or nearly so. The law presses them on the right
hand, and they are compelled to press the "middle men"
on the left hand. Thus, the "middle men" are, in their
tutu, compelled to press upon the distressed rmers, or
3 Ribbon-men, and these latter are goaded to madness and
despair. If they are not bound by legal leases, obligating
them to pay the high monied rents, they are at least bound
by the habits and custom of the country, which have nearly
the force of law, when once rooted and established in a
country. How distressing, then, is this state of things in
Ireland ! Hall the "limited annuitants" in the kingdom
had been swept into the sea, it would not have occasioned
one.twentieth part of the havoc and injustice, and of the
misery and ruin which the attempt to restore the old me-
tallic standard of value has occasioned In this single
instance.
And how vain it is to expect that the disturbances in Ire-
land can cease, as long as this cruel principle continues in
operation. They may be suppressed, from time to time, by
military force, but they cannot be permanently suppressed,
unless the cause to which they owe their origin is removed.-
The unfortunate " Ribbon-men" may be executed by hun-
dreds, and by thousands, but they cannot be made contented
until they either receive death or justice. Then they will
be at peace, but not till then; because, until then, the
law exacts impossibilities from them. The Ltw holds with
its iron grasp, Ribbon-men, middle-men and land-owners.
It is not possible for one to relieve the Other, because the
man that is a creditor on the right hand, is a debtor
in the left hand; and his own obligations being payable
upon the ratio of high monied prices, he is compelled to exact
the high-monied payments himself. The landholders and
the middle men arc forced to exact from the Ribbonmcn their
double munied rents out of half their monied means. The
poor wretched Ribbon-men have no capital to rely upon, as
the English farmers have. They look round on every side
for relief, and they find none: they toil, and struggle, and
starve, but all is in vain : they consult together in their mu
tual ruin : all manner of wild and distempered thoughts
present themselves to their distracted minds : until at last,
irritated by suffering, and infuriated by despair, they take up
arms against the system of their country, and endeavour to
obtain by force that justice which the mistaken policy of the
law denies them.
And can we wonder at such conduct under such drawn-
stances ? Can we expect any other conduct from thou kw.
dreds of thousands of distressed farmers, as long as we mist '
in exacting from them the fulfilment of impossibilities;
long as we persist in compelling them to pay double moodoil
tents and debts out of half the monicd means which they
seised when those rents and debts were contracted f
pressure of the old metallic standard has reduced the amis.
prices of their produce one-half; and if govenratig bog
not omitted the precaution of reducing their medal uomo
and debts Pone-half, they might still have canolossi
exist. But as government has omitted that preaudao, k

i% not post It leer these unhappy men to hear tbe burden
which the law imposes. They are doomed to cultivate a
fertile soil, never to tase its produce. Their corn, tin ir
meat, the very produce for their children. are a!' sw
lowed up bp their protected values. And even then the
law is not satisfied. It holds them with its iron gra p ;
and when they give all that thefhave, it still calls for more.
I Let us follow them into their wretched cabins, and when west'.
them and their children, let us ask our own hews whether
these are the men from whom the law ought to grasp a doubled
payment cf their rents and debts ? And when we hear the
sighs, and the deep and bitter curses which are sentry from
the bottom of their hearts, let us no longer be surprised at any
extremities to which want, and misery, and despair. may
goad these forlorn and desperate omen. Let us rot be de.
ceived by the apparent tranquillity which force impo-es. but
let us rather acknowledge that it is not pos-ihle fm r
Ribbon-men to be at rest, until they rest in the gra; c.
I remember In the year 1816, that the markets of E: ,g-
-land were literally deluged with Irish pigs. These ere m.
turd were thrown upon England, like the locusts upon
Egypt, to devour the land, rather than to be &vowed
themselves; for although they were sold almost as cheap
as the very earth on which they stood, yet the poor
Englishmen who wanted to eat them, could not raise the
money wherewith to buy them. It was generally thought
at the time, that the sudden inundation of clear strangers
upon the English markets, was occasioned by the cessation of
the consumption which they formerly found in the Royal Navy
But I contended, that it was occasioned by the depres-
sion of prices of agricultural produce, which had doped a
million of Irish mouths ; and not by the discharge of
a few thousand of sailors, who would snit have con:wand
nearly as much pork as before, provided they could but
have obtained the money wherewith to buy it. Events soon
after proved that I was correct ; for no sooner were the
prices of agricultural produce raised again, by the Bank of
England sending out its millions of legal tenders, than these
Irish visitors disappeared from the English markets as if
by magic. For the last year and a half, however, the
Bank of England has been compelled to withdraw its mil-
lions of legal tenders again, and accordingly the prices of
agricultural produce have again been reduced ; the Irish
mouths have again been closed ; and again the Irish pigs
have presented themselves by thousands in the English mar-
kets. It may appear strange, that the depression of the
prices of agricultural produce timid check the consort:26,m
of meat in Ireland, but it is not less strange than tine.
The simple explanation of all this is as follows: As lon
as the prices cf agricultural produce in Ireland were re-
served at the high war level which existed when the mimed
rents, debts, and taxes of Ireland were agreed upon or
incurred, the little farmers, or Ribbon-men of Ireland, we-e
enabled to discharge these protected values out of a ecrtait.
portion of their annual produce. reierving to them el t s
another portion, though a small one, for the support art
themselves and their families. But when the attempt to
render these high war prices convertible into gold at the
old standard, has reduced such high prices to nearly the old
level, the consequence is, that the discharge of the protected
values requires all the produce of the Ribbon-men, and leaves
none for the support of themselves and their fimmili.s. It' the
protected values take half at high prices, the take all at
low prices. The little farmers are obliged to sell all
their produce fur the purpose of paying their rent.; and
debts. It is thus, that a million of mouths are closed in Ire-
land ; and that the Irish pigs, having lust these innumerable
markets at home, are forced to seek other markets upon Eng-
lish ground. It is vain for their owners to expect a mar-
ket upon Irish ground ; for if the Ribbon-men could by
any means afford to buy them, they would not have been
compelled to sell them. It is, therefore. that these myriads
of strangers are forced upon the English markets ; and
unfortut.ately, they come at a time when the very same
principle is at work in England, closing. or nearly
closing, trillions of hungry mouths on one hand, and glut.
ting tho markets with produce on the other hats I. The prin.
cipal obj:ct which I have in view is to open these mouths
again. These are the markets which lam looking to for the
restoration of agriculture ' • and to similar markets I look toe
the restoration of trade. The measures which I recommend
will give to the Ribbon-men of Ireland, and to the distressed
mechanics and labourers of England, the me mats of con-ton-
ing all the agricul.ural produce with which the Almighty
hes blessed us. quite as fast as either Englii!. or Irish farmers
can bring it to market ; or even as fast as al the merchants
In the world can bring it to marks' ! And if those measures
should fail in this (Let— if they slieuld fail to feed the
hungry and clothe the naked, to render justice to every net,
end to restore peace and prosperity to all, I would most
readily lay down my life.
But mark, Mr. Editor, things ate raildly changing
around us, and men's minds are changing with the change
of thing& Men's mini!' have lust the spring and elas.icity
which they possessed a few years ago, but which is
sow broken and worn out by a loos ...ifs of disap.
retina& hopes, and by cares, anti sufferings and privations
st hundred kinds; and, In the place of this healthy prin.-
elide._ which disposed the turd; of men to move with
confidence in the pursuits of busin.ss, a degree of tau
moral excitement is rapidly taking effect among them. whidt
disposes them to nothing but anarchy and blood. Irritated,
agitated, and inflamed by a hundred passions, they leave
with disgust those social and peaceful habits which, for year
after year, have presented little bust scenes of disappointment
and unrewarded labour, and they turn with velicannce to
thoughts of fury and despair. Now the measures which I
recommend are calculated for men and not for demons. If,
therefore, the Legislature should think proper to delay them
until every black and hellish passion is roused into action, I
shall recommend them no mote Let the men, whose infs.
tuated measures have brought all this mischief among us,
controul it by better means if they can.
Mier all that I have said, Air. Ether, l trust that I have
sufficiently shown that the proceedings of the Ribbon.nien
are the inevitable effects of the extreme hardships of their
situation, acting upon irritable and uncultivated minds ; an l
that they originate principally in the depression of the prices
of produce, occasioned by the arbitrary and urjust attempt
to restore he old metallic standard of value. There will be
no peace for Ireland until either the law, or the old metallic
standard, is overturned.
I ant, Sc, your obedient humble servant,
THOMAS ATIWOOD.

r.
.1>
"fiffie
I/10MM) 2.0
1788.