Star.
London, England, 1819-09-11 00:00:00

TO THE EDITOR OF THE STAR.

Stn—ln the interval before the next Meeting of
the Committee, I have the honour to address you
on the propriety of employing waste lands as a mean
of creatig employment for a multitude of unoccu-
pied poor.
In looking at the state of our Manufactures, the
question appears to be easily determined, whether or
not we are to count on these as furnishing a medium
of additional occupation ? The negative will, there-
fore, be assumed as granted. That commerce may
nevertheless be reviving, and that some of those, for
whom it is now thought essential to provide other
employment, may eventually be found to return to
manufacturing labour, It is not meant to controvert.
It is, however, quite necessary that adequate employ-
ment be to be found at all times for the industrious
poor, who, without such, will be in imminent danger
of ceasing from this honourable standing in our pros-
perous community.
It has even been admitted, by a writer* whose
opinions generally, certainly are somewhat at va•
riance with the admission of such a fact, but whose
authority is therefore more impressive on the subject,
that our country might be made to maintain double,
or even treble, its .present population. Our land is,
indeed, rich in its soil; and, in these times, we must
rejoice that a most eminent remedy here offers itself
to an host of evils. But it is not to be denied that
very much land, at present in cultivation, does not
yield the produce which would be .obtainable from
other management. It is even believed that consi-
derable landed proprietors are so convinced of the
necessity of effecting a change in these respects, that
the system of small farms may be contemplated as
already commenced. Individual profit and patriotic
views here prominently may appear together.
This will be found likewise to give rise to an in-
crease of spade-husbandry, on the utility of which.
last, this Association has been so happy as already to
have obtained satisfactery information ; and even-*
tually trusts to realize results which may be laid be-
fo.e the Public.
But as our country contains very many portions
of waste land, capable of yielding productive em-
ployment to large portions of its at i r.sent inert p-.
pulation, surely the refl:cting and patriotic hove not
been mistaken in anticipating that our workhouses
ans other receptacles might be superseded by the
supply of the most I ea'.thful and congenial employ-
ment ; that our streets might cease from exhibiting
such hear:•rending scenes of real distress; arid a
prospect of independence be evenually realized to
our desponding countrymen.
Accordingly, in the progress of the Institution,
very much has occurred to establish the conviction,
that parochial farming might be carried on with the
most satisfactory effects. In some counties the effi-
lcacy of the plan stands most illustrious: and where-
ever suitable management is secured, the come-
quinces, it is believed, canna.` fail of being most
propitious.
The poor man should, however, in all cases be fur-
iniihed with a small portion of ground, at an easy rate,
`for his own and family's occupation at leisure hours.
But that those large masses of comparatively un-
productive and waste lands lying within a few miles
of the Metropolis slioUld remain unapplied, as a re-
source to these cities, one cannot well conceive.
One parish t has. with much energy been agitating
these objects.
Under the auspices of his Royal Highness the
PRINCE REGENT, some demonstrations are to be
made in the Wesit, where some hundreds of thou-
sand acres may soon he expected to supply with the
means of subsistence its corresponding population.
Indeed, I beg to express the conviction of an indi-
vidual, that could we once see a spirit of party placed
in the back ground, and a number of judicious and
reflecting individuals, from the highest and middle
ranks, united in these discussions for patriotic pun.
pse, and I am not certain tlrft something of this-
kind is not Low developing, that the greatest practi.
table benefits to our disturbed society could not fad
to be the happy issue.
London, certainly, from its weight of intelligence
and influence, would be the most eligible centre.
The assistance of. Administration, I venture to think,
might be hoped for. Government; and Government
hiends, in unison with the ancient Patriot,ic interests
of the country, might prove a guaranty of eventual
success.. A co-operation on- such a basis would de-
stroy all apprehensions of insecurity, and re-assure the
I:Asperity, security, and happiness of our land..l
am, Sir, &c. BENJAMIN WIJA.S:
Nines Head, Poster/. Septembi.r, 1819.
1 • Ur. Malawi!. f St. Marti?, Fields. I At Dartmoor,