The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1840-03-17 00:00:00

THE GERMAN LEAGUE AND THE CORN-LAWS.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE STANDARD.
" Tell me of corn !
That was my speech—and I will speak't again
The people had more absolute power,
I say their nourish'd disobedience fed
The ruin of the state."

37, Wood-street, March 10, 1840.
Sir,—The popular outcry at this moment, is for a repeal of
the corn-laws ; and hired lecturers are progressing through
the country, in many instances giving a false colouring to
this most important and difficult question of legislation, for
the purpose of forcing the government into a compliance with
the demands of the " Milocracy," who, under an apprehen-
sion that the future demand for their productions will be di-
minished by the natural competition of other countries,
think, (or profess to think) to find a remedy in a measure
which, if complied with, will reduce the value of the home
trade without augmenting the foreign.
One of the hacknied arguments in favour of a repeal of the
corn-laws is that they prevent the exportation of British
manufactures to European countries producing corn.
An assumption is here made, and the inference calculated
to be drawn by the attendants on the corn-law lectures—that
the countries alluded to produce little or nothing but corn ;
or that if they do manufacture at all, it is only because
England will not take their corn in exchange for her manu-
factures. . .

It is also asserted that our exports to Continental Europe
are already considerably diminished during the last few years,
and this impression has taken root even among members of
of the legislature itself.
The proper way of dealing with so gross a fallacy is to exhi-
bit facts. The following table is from the Board of Trade,
and it would have been brought down to 1839 but from the
circumstance of the annual official report published being
kept back, waiting matter from the Poor-law Commission-
ers :
British Manufactures and Productions exported to all
Europe.

In 1828
1830
1836 18,970,000
1838 21,703,000
showing an increase upon the year 1838 over 1828 of
£7,598,000.
Of these exports about £9,000,000 are annually exported
to Germany and Holland, whilst our imports do not exceed
£4,000,000, leaving a balance of .£5,000,000 in favour of
England, at present paid in specie to this country.
According to all hitherto received authorities, this is the
most valuable traffic a nation can have ; but new lights have
broken in upon ns, and all that has the rust of experience on
it, is cast aside as useless.*
It is also asserted by the " repealers," that if England
took her corn from Germany, the Germans would cease to
be manufacturers ; this is as great a fallacy as the former.
The heated imaginations of the " immediate and absolute
repealists" will not permit them to recollect, that the long
warfare in which Europe was involved by the ambition of
Bonaparte, caused the destruction of all the factories and
looms that formerly existed in Germany ' • and that time unin-
terrupted tranquillity enjoyed since the battle of Waterloo,
has encouraged a gradual investment.of capital in those arts
and manufactures, in which they in olden times excelled,
and many of which in fact they imparted to us.
That a country like Germany (Saxony in particular), pos-
sessing in abundance mines of iron, lead, copper, silver, tin,
cobalt, arsenic, coal, sulphur, salt, &c., &c., with navigable
rivers, good roads, and a most philosophic, patient, and in-
dustrious population, will retrace itself, and merely till the
earth, because England may require some few millions in
value of corn annually, is really too absurd to require com-
ment.
But there now exist other causes why Germany must, of
necessity, (provided the peace of Europe continues uninter-
rupted,) become a most formidable manufacturing rival to
this country ; and these causes no government could have, or
possibly can have effectually provided against.
The " German confederation," or " Prussian league," is
now nearly matured, and may be properly termed a " Rus-
sian Germanic confederation" against Great Britain ; for it
is under Russian auspices this confederation has been pro-
moted and fostered, and the principles alluded to in the note
below are to be strictly adhered to. A few years since was
drawn up " A Memoir on the State of Germany, and her
future commercial prospects, under the direction of a Mi-
nister at St. Petersburgh, and confidentially communicated
to several of the German Government," with an express un-
derstanding that Russia would be the protector of the
" German Confederation," and that under its auspices a
preference for German manufactures would be given by
Russia ; and not only a trade with Turkey and Persia be
guaranteed, but that a commercial route should be opened
into central India.
Russia has now Persia and Turkey at her feet—she has
driven her frontier forward upon Germany and upon North-
ern India—has the Black and Caspian seas at her command ;
and, taking advantage of our rupture with China, has re-
cently sent an embassy to Pekin.t
By the table of exports to Europe, it is evident we have
hitherto sustained no injury ; but even those tables show a
balance of trade against us as regards Russia, who, for years
past, has been striking at our commerce, by the adoption of
fiscal measures amounting almost to prohibition. The pro-
spective is, however, near at hand, and the time has arrived
when it becomes the duty of the legislature to enter upon the
inquiry (in connection with the corn-laws) of the future com-
mercial prospects of England, and not be carried away by
the representations of the mercantile community to inflict
an injury upon the agriculturists, and thus eventually bring
about one common ruin ; for if the corn-laws were repealed,
and the German ports opened, whatever amount they receiv-
ed from us, either in gold or half-manufactured articles (such
as yarns, twists, &c.), they would invest towards the exten-
sion of factories and mills, and thus increase the evil.:
The repealists, in their discussions, sink the value of the
British home trade altogether, which is of infinitely more va-
lue than all the foreign trade we even have done, or shall do.
Supposing the rental of the land to amount £160,000,000
per annum, a repeal of the corn-laws would reduce it to
£120,000,000, by which the home trade would be depreciated
in a corresponding degree, to the utter ruin of a vast number
of shopkeepers and traders. It is a remarkable feature of
the times, that this portion of the community are so blind to
their particular interests upon this important and complicated
question.
The pretence that the labourer and artisan will be bene-
fitted by a repeal, is altogether a delusion, for in proportion
as the loaf is reduced, so will the factory owners reduce the
wages of their workpeople, and thus in every way will the
circulating medium of the country be contracted ; whilst the
interest of the national debt will remain the same, and the
current expenses of the country (from the position Russia
has assumed) go on increasing.
The corn-law question is one of the most abstruse charac-
ter, and it is earnestly to be hoped that the government (now
it is about to be discussed again) will not make it a measure
of expediency to popular clamour, but go into it with a sin-
cere intention to support the interests both of the corn
grower and the manufacturer, for unless the former is in a
flourishing condition the latter must inevitably decline.
There are two main considerations :-
Ist. What advantage will it be to the artisan and trader if,
in proportion as bread falls, wages and profits are to be re-
duced ?
2nd. In the event of war or short crops in the countries
we are called upon to depend on for corn, how is this country
to be protected from famine, or, what is equally bad to the
poor, famine prices ?
The legislature will also do well to consider that any ma-
terial alteration in the protection yet given to the agricultu-
ral interests, may only ameliorate what must eventually take
place, viz., the extension of German commerce and wealth,
and her manufacturing powers increased to as great an extent
as those of Great Britain, whilst the former will be unen-
cumbered with debt, and with a mere nominal taxation, and
the latter burthened with the interest of a heavy national
debt, and enormous annual expenses of government.
The following extract from an Augsburyh Gazette will
evince the feeling towards England :—" The English corn
bill does our agriculturists but little injury ; it is far more
prejudicial to English merchants. At all events, it does not
seem likely that Germany will make a treaty with England,
for our views and interests are too much opposed to each
other."
In fact, turn to whatever German document you will, the
same tenor of feeling is exhibited. The Germans desire no-
thing more than to see the corn laws repealed, promising a
reciprocal treaty when that is effected, that it is thus they
amuse such men as are put out by the Board of Trade (here)
to negociate on commercial matters with some of the first
diplomatists in the world.
At this moment England presents the humiliating and
lamentable spectacle of a mighty nation directing its powers
and energies against itself—blinded and hoodwinked by fo-
; reigners' and alternately bullied and cajoled by factions at
home. With a decaying trade and revenue, and increased
expenditure, great must be the moral energies by which
(under Providence) this country will be enabled to hold its
; position among nations—still
" Naught shall England rue.
If to herself she prove but true."

WILLum HULL.

* Grotius, Vatel, Puffendorf, and others, hold-
-Ist.
That as the number of inhabitants constitutes the
strength of a nation, so its real riches will arise from having
a great number of people employed at the expense of other
states.
2d. That in the balance of trade (which arises from one
state selling more goods than it takes in return, and which is
paid in the precious metals) consists the profit of such trade.
3d. That every farthing expended with a foreign state for
articles which may be produced at home is a double loss to
the nation, as being so much money sent away from the
country, and so much loss to the native artisan and labourer,
who would be otherwise employed in producing them.
These principles have ever been maintained by the Duke
of Wellington in and out of power.
t The Saxons are at this moment actively engaged in
opening a trade with the United States and South America,
particularly in cotton hose, woollens, &c. ; and the Dutch
are now invited to become parties to the " League," under
a promise of a preference to the productions of Java to those
of our colouies.
4: An influential German manufacturer recently told the
author that all the profit made by corn exported to England,
is employed in promoting the principles of the Prussian
League.

A Hindoo, named Gobind Chunder Gosain, an inhabitant
of Balle, died lately, leaving no less than 100 widows.—
Asiatic Journal.
- -

OYSTERS.—The oysters at the British coasts have long
been admitted to be the best procurable in Europe. The
Romans paid great prices for them, although it is not likely
that they would then be taken to Italy in a very fresh state.
Of the British coasts, the districts most famous for their
oysters are the shores of Kent and Essex. Those found
near Milton in Kent, and usually called the " native"
oysters, are perhaps the very best ; they are small, round,
plump, and white, with thin shells, which are easily opened.
The oysters found in the river Coln, on which stands the
town of Colchester, in Essex, are also of excellent quality,
and are renowned over the whole island. Marlow has made
them classical by causing Justice Greedy, in " A New Way
to Pay Old Debts," to say that he had nothing to speak of
this morning before breakfast, except a barrel of Colchester
oysters. The Coln, near that town, forms a great many
arms and creeks exceedingly well suited for the formation of
oyster-banks. The Dorsetshire oysters rank next in esti.
mation to those of Essex. Those of Pool, especially, hold
a high reputation, as do those also of Feversham in Kent, of
the Isle of Wight, and of Tenby on the coast of South
Wales. Vast quantities are carried to the continent from the
Kentish coasts. Several hundred vessels were at one time
employed annually in this trade alone. In London, during
the proper season, the trade in oysters is very considerable,
both for exportation into the country and native consump-
tion. The dealers bestow great pains in preserving and
feeding the oysters in tubs, containing an infusion of salt
water and a little oatmeal. Besides those on the English
shores, oyster-banks are common on the northern coasts of
Ireland. The Scottish capital has been, till a recent period,
plentifully supplied with good oysters from the Firth of
Forth, in its immediate vicinity. Nearly opposite to Leith,
there was a large depot of them, formed around or near the
islet of Inchkeith. Local poets speak with rapture of the
delicious caller (that is, fresh) oysters which were to be had
in Edinburgh for evening festivities. From mismanagement,
or some other cause, the Edinburgh oysters have greatly
degenerated in quality ; and the town has consequently lost
Sutton, Polebeg, and
one of ita objects of attraction. Dublin is supplied from
Arklow, a little to the east, and oysters are conveyed thence
to artificial beds, near the capital, on the northern side. At
Dublin, additional supplies are procured for the tables of the
Dalkey, paces but a short way from
Irish metropolitans.

At ipping Inttlligenre.

FRIDAY, MARCH 13.—Wind N.N.W,

ARRI van—Greyhound, Revett, from Messina—Christiana, On-
singnaze, from Bilboa—Fanny Palmer, —, from Smyrna—
George, , from Marseilles—Queen Victoria, Thompson, from
Natchez—Napier, Sandford, and United States, Britton, from New
York—Monongahela, Turley, from Philadelphia ; sailed 16th Feb.—
Adriana, Bale, from Monte Video and Cork—Dit-on, , from
Jersey—John Blake, , from Odessa—Carena, Hayden, from
Palermo.

Balfour, Foster, hence at Bombay, 3rd Jan.
Reliance, Hall, hence at ditto, 23d Jan.
Amelia, Tensdaile, hence at Havana
Alert, Vidler, hence ut Charente
Phillips, —, hence-to Mica, was spoken 4th Dec. in lat. 48 N.
long. 80 W.
Agenora, —, hence to —, was spoken 19th Jan. 18 N.
long. 58 W.
The Nemises. (iron steamer) hence at Portsmouth, and reported
to he leaky, having been on the Leven Stones
Two Sisters, Tinley, sailed from Madras for this port 14th Jan.
Berenice, ;steamer) from Suez, at Bombay on the 10th Jan. with
the London mail of 4th Dec.
Mary, Duncan, from Genoa for this port, at Crookhaven
Rob Roy, Marsh, from Virginia, off Cape Clear
Cognac Packet, —, from Cape Good Hope at ditto
Edward, —, hence for Danzig, at Plymouth
Faerie Queen, , sailed from China for Manila and New
South Wales, December, and John O'Gaunt, for Liverpool, 10th
December _ _ _

Earl Durham,
sail for Liverpool Ist Dec.
Sunda, Greig, from London for China, was wrecked 12th Oct.
on the island of Hainan ; 17 persons drowned