Star.
London, England, 1826-06-20 00:00:00

ON THE CORN LAWS.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE STAR.

Stn—One of the most important matters to the wel-
fare and happiness of these kingdoms is a supply of
the Recess:dries of life, eta regular and equitable price.
This fact has now fully awakened the attention of alf
classes of the community. ltis nevertheless contended
that the existing Corn Laws are the protection of the
landlord, the tenant, and the labourer. But the fact is
quite the contrary ; for it is evident thai these laws
have been the destruction of each of those classes. Their
baneful influence has given an unnatural stimulus to
the motives for the growing of corn. The little farms,
once the happiness and ornament of the country,:have
been added to thereat ocoupiers of already too large
tracts of land. It may be asked.where are the rosy-cheeked
milk-maids, daughters• of these humble farmers?—
Where is the industrious dame and the curly-pated lads
which enlivened the once happy little domestic fireside
of the occupier of -his 60 or 80 .aeres ? Alas ! these
snug farm houses aro swept from the face of the land,
and their occupiers !tad dltscendatike. become day la-
bourers, or are consigned to .the poor house. Yet, the
desolator: thernsebros . have not • escaped punishment.
The high prices hasie temoted ihem .to desert the hos-
pitable manor houssif of theii ancestors for the squares
and palaces at the.. west end- of the great city. This
emigration has awakened a desire of extravagant en-
joyment in their families, and they have, in their turn,
become the prey of mortgagees and annuitant-mongers.
Could they return to their once respectable mansions?
No, they were compelled by the change of prices, par-
ticularly in 1822, to fly from the storm on their conti-
nental tours. Thus it appears that the Cora Laws, by
the exceedingly high. price at one period, and the
equally low price at another, have occasioned all this
distress, for artificial prosperity must end in real misery
and destruction. That this hat been the case with the
land owners and others is too apparent to be contra-
dicted. Yet midst this, dark cloud a ray of sunshine
has been afforded to the ownets of land.
It is a well known fact that the greater part of the
estates in this country are mortgaged, for which five
'per cent bps been paidibut in consequence of the very
great plenty of money, the Bank of England and others
offered it some time sinice.at -About four or three and
half per cent. thus affording a great relief to this class
of individuals, while at the slim moment the mer-
chant and manufacturer, who keep their floating capi.
tal its the funds, nr in the hands of private bankers, have
experienced a decrease in their income by the reduction
of the national interest of one per-cent. A cursory ob-
server may say, 44 why the merchant and trader may
obtain money at the same rate of- interest, and with the
same facility as the land owner." But can the one de-
posit his property with the same ease and facility as the
other can lodge his title deeds ?
This subject might bt.- blanched nut into endless sir-
gument by the interested on both sides of the question;
bur it is trident that bread and meat ire now too dear,
and that the only plan to promote the prosperity and
comfort of all, is a free trade in corn, as well as other
merchandise. Yet, from the long existence of a con-
trary system, it would, perhaps, be dangerous at once
to plunge into the proposed mid.; hence, we must be
content for the present to fix a duty on the importation
of foreign corn, equal to the expense of the English
grower. This duty could he easily reduced or encreased,
until experience had ascertained for us what should be
the permanent rate of duty, and the proper moment to
abolish it altogether. This period, if we continue in a
state of peace, would arrive by the consequent reduction
of the citation. _ _

The Land-owner has a great objection to lower his
rents; however true it is, that if he lowered them one
third, ho would, by the consequent 'low price of every
article of his consumption, be able to live as well, or
better, upon a reduced income, as he was with high
rents, with the pleasing reflection, that all classes of
society would equally enjoy the desired change.
This can only be effected by an Act ,of Parliament;
therefore it is incumbent tpon the people to petition the
Throne, and both /louses of Parliament, that a due re-
vision of the Corn Laws may take place,—thus second
ittg and supporting the evident wishes of Ministers on
that vital subject, for witheut•the support a the mass
of the people, thus 'tressed, it is impossible they can
long maintain the contest against their powerful oppo-
nents,—the Landed Interest.
15th June, 11126. VERAX.

LITERATURE.
Per th of Mo.* 4artivright.-..
Edited by his Niece, X. •U, Cartwright... 2 vols.
Bvo. London, - -
Few persons in the political world were better known
than the late Major Cartwright ; and although he took
a very decided part, yet he possessed the esteem of all
parties, ranking among his frieuds, Whigs and Tories,
Reformers and Anti-Reformers. This was in no small
degree owing to. his private worth, but perhaps still
rn ,re to the amiability of his character, and the care
with which he abstained from introducing politics in a
mixed company.
The life of this Gentleman is written by his niece,
who has proved herself fully adequate to the task. It
is a very interesting membir, and besides containing a
history of the political life of the Major. abounds with
original anecdotes and shrewd remarks, as well as
several letters front some of the most distinguished
persons of the day, including Fox, Sheridan, Horne
Tooke, Sir Philip Francis, &c.
It will be seen by a perusal of these volumei, that
however far Major Cartwright carried his iJeas of
Parliamentary Reform, and few went farther, yet he
had always the goad of his country at heart, and was
anxious to promote its interests by various suggestions,
some of which have been adopted. The Major served
both in the Navy and in the Army, ant in the former
distinguished himself by his bravery under Llrd Howe,
on more than one occasion. In one engagement, the
ship in which young Cartwright served was so close to
the enemy's vessel, that the shots went through both
sides of her :

Arts' the engagement was over, Sir Edward Mawke sent
round to all the captain; of the fleet to inquire bow they had fared
during the action. Gaptain.Patrick:Baird baying hid a finger shot
off, returned the following brief message—' My compliments to
the Admiral, and tell him I have only lost a tobacco stopper.' Being
examined as an evidence on a court-martial, respecting the practi-
cability of throwing succours into Gibraltar, he was asked if he
should have t►ought it his duty at all hazards to follow his instruc-
tions ? If an admiral,' said he, were ordered to throw succours
into hell, in my opinion he ought to attempt It ; and the old Defiance
should be at his service to lead the van.' "

" Of Lord Howe's constant attention to the good of the service,
Major Cartwright used to give the following instance--During an

action (the writer believes it was that mentioned above) Lord 11owe
remarked a small vessel with two large spars attachU to hoc, which
was, nevertheless, very ably ms.nteuvred : as soon as the action was
over, he sent to the Admiral to inquire by whom she was cone-
minded, and finding it was a young officer of tbe name of Ham-
mond, requested that he might kiln him as first-lieutenant on board
his own ship. This gentleman is now Sir Andrew Snipe Ham-
mond, Comptroller of the Navy."
Among the miscellaneous anecdotes in this volume,
we find the following one of Fueli :
" By the interest of Sir Joshua Reynolds he was employed to
copy a capital picture at Rome for his Majesty, for which be was
to be paid 1500 guineas. You must know that he his a bare main-
tenance; and that a munificent friend in England is at the principal
expense of supporting him while he studies abroad. 'While pre-
paring for the execution of the above commission, be became ac-
quainted with a very indigent obscure young artist, an Englishman
by birth, and was in a short tinte so much struck with his sklfl in
painting, that Int wrote home to excuse himself from making the
copy, and to recommend his friend, whom he represented as so
much his superior hi the art, that be could not, in justice to his
Merit, accept of such an employment while he was disengaged. Is
Fuseli or Lord Clive most to be envied ?"

LAW INTELLIGENCE.

COURT OF COMMON PLEAS, Asa 19.
MARTIN V. LADY Monza.

This was envied ,n in which the plaintiff sought to re.
.cover from the defendant a pecuniary compass ition for
certain services which he had rendered to Lord Hervey
Moore, whose widow the defendant is. The plaint ff is a
young man, who had been ed lc .ted for die Choi ch,
and was on terms of intimate acquaintance with the late
Lord H. Moore. On account of his extravagance and
dissipation, Lord H. Moore had been on bid terms with
his father, the late Marquis of Drogheda. The great
expenses which Lord H. Moore had incurred in this
country obliged him to retire to the Continent. He had,
during his difficulties, got into the h snkis of the well-
known annuity brokers, Howard and Gibbs, who had
effected annuities for him to the amount of 40,0001.
The plaintiff's influence and that of his father effected a
reconciliation between Lot d Henry Moore and his father,
and through his means the old Marquis advanced his
son a sum of money to meet his demands; and the
plaintiff, through his good offices, so altered the vene-
rable Marquis's mind, that he altered his t ill, and lett
property to a considerable amount to his son, instead Of
cutting-him of as.he had intended. By the ability and
assiduity of the plaintiff', in going- about to Lord H.
Moore's annuity creditors, he effected on the 46,0001
and other debts a reduction in favour cf his friend to
the amount of 25,0001. which -he thus saved Lord H.
Moore,- who at different times expressed his acknow-
ledgment of his friend's services iu the most grateful
terms. But Lord H. Moore having died, and the plain-
tiff having never received anything but acknowledg-
ment fur his services, he brought this action against the
widow of the deceased Lord to obtain some pecuniary
compensation.
The LORD CHIEr Jorrica, seeing that the plaintiff
could not prove an employment in law, so as to maintain
the action, advised that it would be the best thing to re-
fer the cause to some Gentlemen at'the Bar to say what
the plaintiff was entitled to. 1 his, however, was termed,
but after some conference between the Counsel, it was
agreed to withdraw a juror, the defendant agreeing fo
give the plaintiff 5501. as a compensation, w hich
in-
chided the costs of the action.

WINDSOR, Jutia 19.—His MAJESTY left the Royal
Lodge this afternoon at half-past two o'clock in his pony phaeton,
accompanied by the Loan Srn►aaD, for Virginia Water, where
they passed the afternoon on the Lake.
The Duke of lone continued better yesterday. The '
Royal Duke was visited by the Duchess of Gloucester. yesterday
morning. The Duke of Sess►x the paid a visit to his Royal High- •
ness on Sunday,. Sir H. Haircut]) and Sir P. 31Acannutra attended
the Royal Duke yesterday.
Yesterday the Duchess of G-LOUCESTER and the Prin-
ce., Sorsa* visited the Princess AUGUSTA.

Mr. and Mrs. Secretary CANNING left town yester._
day Jimmie' for Brighton.
Yesterday the Right lion. the. LORD MAYOR, attended
by the Sheriffs and Recorder, left the hilansiln House, and held a
Court of Conservancy at the Town Hall, /3orougb, for the County
of Surrey; after which they proceeded to the Swan, Westnainster
Bridge,where they held a similar Coon, fur the Count yof aliddlesex.
WARRR was inviied to dine with Ml.' L. the music-
seller, whose residence and establishment are of a very handsome
description. On entering the noble drawing room, the quiet Ger-
man opened his eyes, and looking round him, said softly, as if to
himself, " I see it is better to sell music than to write it." Froze
her letters it appears that the wife of Von I'J* to is of polka chit
he has been but ill recompensed ; he Is said to have gm about 10004
by his visit to England, via. 5001. for his Oberon, and about .5001.
for superintendence at rehearsals and private concerts.'
By letters from Calcutta, of the Bth of February, we
learn, that in consegiince of there being little or no in-
undations, the early sowings of indigo, in October, have
been Almost entirely destroyed, :etd there was so great
a scarcity of seed, that a-con,iderable failure in the crop
was anticipated.

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