Star.
London, England, 1820-04-19 00:00:00

THE EVENING STAR.

LONDON.

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 19, 1820.
THE FUND&
PRICE Of STOCKS THIS DAY AT ONS O'CLOCK :
Bank Stock 2211/2
3 per Cent. Reduced 691/4 691/2 68%
3 per Cent. Consols 7069% 70691/2
fti per Cent. '79 773 —i. per Cent. 871/2 Vs lh
5 per Cent. Navy 1051/4 1/2
Bank Long Annuities 18 1-16 18
Imperial 3 per Cent. Anns. 691/s
India Bonds 275. 245. pr.
Synth-Sea Stock 77%
Exchequer Bills (2d.) 4s. ss. pre.
Consols for Acct. 701/2 69 78 701/8 69%78.

We have already expressed our opiniort on the im-
policy, to say nothing else, which we think cha-
racterises the Declaration signed by the Master Ma-
nufacturers of Glasgow. The Scots Papers have, we
are happy to see, taken a similar view of this mea-
sure. If it be true, as stated by Mr. FINLAY, that
" almost the whole mass of the population were con-
cerned in these desperate designs," to overturn the Con-
stitution, how is it possible to carry the Resolution
into effect, to employ none of those who were con.:
cerned in the late treasonable proceedings ? Are the
people to be starved to death ? Are all the /nano-
fictories to be shut up?—No, no. Self-interest will
prevent this ! Passion must give way to reason.
Threaten future offenders as much as you will,
atid if they incur the penalty, inflict the punishment;
but do not yourselves become offenders, by a combi-
r 3.10 n to prevent people from earning their bread,
a:ld thus doing every thing in your power to drive
them to acts of desperation. This is not the way
that the UNIVERSAL PARENT acts towards you, in
common with the rest of mankind ; and is not that
in which you should conduct yourselves.
How would you look, and what would you say,
were the workmen to enter into a counter-combina-
tion not to work in any manufactory from which any
person had been turned away for, what they call,
political opinions? You may laugh at the idea, be-
cause you know they have not the means of sub-
sistence; but this is no answer to the question; nor
will your own reason be satisfied with your own grin.

It is true, as stated by ADAM SMITH, that in all I
disputes betnen Masters and men, " the Masters
can hold out much the longer of the two. A Land-
lord, a Farmer, a Master Manufacturer,.or Merchant,
though they did not employ a single workman, could
generally live a year or two upon their stocks which
they have already acquired. Many workmen could,
tot subsist a week, few could subsist a month, and
scarce any a year, without employment." But what
he adds, is equally true—" In the long run the work-
man may be as necessary to his master, as his master
is to him; only the necessity is not so immediate."—
This case is not altered by the fact, that, in the part
of SMITH'S work which we have quoted, the author
is speaking only of ..I.e combinations which take place
among workmen to improve their wages, and among
the employers to reduce them as low as possible ; for
the present ferment and discontent has not arisen in-
dependently of the question of wages. " The masters
being few in number, can combine much more easily
than the men, " and the law, besides, authorizes, or
at least does not prohibit their combinations, while it
prohibits thase of the workmen. We have no Acts
of Parliament against combining to lower the price
of work ; but many against combining to rare
The result has been What cupidity chose to dictate.
In all the Manufacturing Districts the wages have
been reduced so much, that even those workmen who
are in full employment cannot maintain themselves
and their fanailics upon their earnings. Has this had
nothing to do with producing the present mischiefs?
Every side of the question should be coolly and im-
partially examined before measures, such as have
been proposed to be acted upon, be resorted to; for
it is possible, bad as things are, that they may, by
precipitation, be made worse; and it is equally true,
that, bad as they are, they may be improved, if wise,
prudent, and temperate measures be adopted. If
the distressing situation in which the workmen have
been long placed, be net duly considered in the pre-
sent crisis, it is much to be feared that passion and
precipitancy will fill the place that. should be occu-
pied by wisdom and prudence.
We consider it a happy circumstance, that the time
for assembling the New Parliament is so near, as it
may be expected that there the subject to which we
have been alluding will undergo some investigation,
free from local prejudices, somewhat. free from pas-
sion, and embracing, more or less, the widely ramified
Circumstances that stand connected with the present
crisis. Never did a Parliament assemble at a More cri-
tical period ; never did circumstances more loudly
call for a deep investigation of all the causes that
have operated to place the country in circumstances
so new, so extraordinary, so foreign and contrary
to the principles and feelings that formerly charac.
tensed the British population.

The Paris Papers of Sunday-arrived this forenoon
The majority of the Committee of the Chamber of

Deputies, charged with the examination of the new
Etectibn Projet, have, it is said, deciketo propose its

rejection, with the exception of four or five articles,
which may be laded to the existing law. M. ROTZR
COLLARD will make the report in a week, if the Projet
is mot in the meantime withdrawn, which it is gene
rally believed will be the case.
The state of the public feeling at Paris, respecting
the Censership,. was manifested in a marked manner
on Thursday; at the Lectures on Modern Histay.--
At the moment when M. RAotn. Rocuarrt, the
Professor (one of the Censors), ascended his chair,
cries of " A bas le C,onseur resoinded from the up-
per part of the Saloon, and a considerable disturb-
ance took place, which was not appeased witlioUt
some difficulty, although it was not thought expedi-
ent to call in the aid of force.l The LectUrei have
been since suspended.
The Conatitutionnel announces, that the Russian
Ambassador at Madrid, has, at last, offered the feli-
citations of his Royal Master to FZRDINAND, OR his
new Government.

Fire per Cents. Saturday, 74 fr. 80e.

CONTAGION.

The Liverpool Paper, received this morning, con-
tains the letters subjoined s

" Downing-street, March 25.
" Sts.--4 am desired by the Earl Bathurst to transmit to you
11 copy of a Dispatch, which has this day been revived from
Major-General Darling, respecting the appearance of a coats-
gions disease at the Mauritius, and its existence on board the
merchant-ship Baistbridge, which brought that Dispatch to this
country ; and I request you will submit this matter to the im-
mediate consideration of his Majesty's Most Honourable Privy
Council, (Signed) ".HENRY GOULBUIIN. .
" The Clerk of the Council in Waiting."
(COPY.)
eGovernusent Hattie, 111auritius, Dec. 21, 11119.

Loan—l have written your Lordship very fully by this
Oppo r t ni ty , the Bainbridge, which is proceeding directly to
Liverpool, leporting, for your Lordship's 011'0m:talon, the par-
ticulars of a disease which blade its appearance here on the 9th
of last month, and has ea.-ricd off a great number of the coloured
population, and some of the white inhabitants.l I have now
deemed it advisable to require of the Captain of the Bainbridge
to enter into bond not to have any communinaticai with the

shore, after the arrival of th► ship, further than May be indis-
pensably necessary to the delivery of a letter to the Collector of
the Customs, which accompanies this (a copy of which It here-
with inclosed), until the Collector shall have signified his assent,
and which May probably occasion this letter reaching your Lord-
ship before any other dispatches transmitted by the present op-
portunity. The crew of the Bainbridge has suffered veil much'
and three of her men have unfortunately died; and though a
voyage to Europe, at this season of the year, appears to afford
the best means of re-establishing the health of the crew, and
will, I trust, remove auy apprehension of the disorder being
contagious, still I have thought it advisable to restrain the com-
munication of the Bainbridge with the shore, until the proper
Authorities shall have had an opportunity of satisfying them-
selves that no danger can be apprehended.