The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1846-04-14 00:00:00

LAW INTELLIGENCE,

TRIAL BY JURY.—At the recent Monmouth assizes,
Lord Denman's opinion that trial by jury may scmetimes
become " a mockery, a delusion, and a snare," was rather
amusingly illustrated. It would appear that it is custo-
mary to insert in commissions issued from the Home
Office for the holding of assizes, the names of the ser-
jeants and Queen's counsel who actually attend the cir-
cuit. On Friday, Baron Pollock, fearing that he should
not be able to open the Gloucester assizes on Monday if
unassisted, assigned the trial of several cases to Mr. Ser-
jeant Allen, who took his seat in the Borough Court, and
proceeded with business. After the trial of some twelve
or fifteen cases it was discovered that the learned Ser-
jeant's name had been omitted in the commission, and
that his powers as a judge were about as great as those of
the crier of the court ! Consternation quickly seized the
Court, counsel, prosecutors, et hoc genus omne—all but
the luckless prisoners. who no doubt felicitated them-
selves with having gained a second chance for their liberty.
Fresh juries had to be empanelled, messengers despatched
with painful celerity to remote parts of the county for wit-
nesses, and, in fact, the whole proceedings to be com-
menced de novo. On Saturday morning, however, the
irregularity was cured by the re-trial of the several pri-
soners by the Chief Baron. It is worthy of remark that
one of the convicts, who had been sentenced to fifteen
years' transportation on his first conviction, escaped with
seven on the second.

The late lamented Earl Spencer is stated by the Don-
caster Gazette to have died in consequence of the Gout
having receded from his lordship's foot and attacked a
vital organ, rendering unavailing all the efforts of his
medical attendants. This is the second member of the
aristocracy aho has fallen a victim to this cruel disorder,
a calamity which is the more to be deplored for had
Blair's Gout and Rheumatic Pills been resorted to, every
hope might have been entertained that those lives would
have been spared, it being one of the essential qualities of
this medicine to arrest in its progress the disease, and
effectually to prevent its attacking any vitel part.
IMPORTANT TO FARMERS.—We have copied the Pre-
face to the new edition of "The Complete Gtazier,"
advertised in our columns of this day, as it so well:displays
the valuable contents of the volume, and having under-
gone a thorough revision by Mr. Youatt. the popular
author of The Horse, Cattle, &c., wa think we are serv-
ing our agricultural friends by bringing before them this
excellent publication. "In presenting this eighth edition
of a work, the original value of which has been sufficiently
attested by its sale, to the public, the proprietors beg
leave to state that no endeavours have been spared to
bring it up to the present state of science. It has under-
gone a complete revision—received an addition of sixty
pages of new matter, and as many valuable cuts—engrav-
ings of the most recent and valuable agricultural imple-
ments have been added, as well as cuts of all the principal
artificial grasses, with the assistance of which the agri-
culturist will be enabled at once to recognise and dis-
tinguish each different one at a glance. The book "On
Manures," that subject of such vital importance in agri-
culture, has been revised according to the best native and
foreign authorities, and in a manner re-written, and an
account given of all the most recently introduced ferti-
lizers, their action, the mode of applying them, and the
quantities in which they should be used ; as well as of the
latest discoveries relative to the powers of those manures,
which have been long known and used. To this may be
added that the breeding, rearing, general e anagement,
and medical treatment of Cattle, Horses, Poultry, Sheep,
and Swine, are practically treated of; together with the
fattening of Cattle, the management of the Dairy, and the
manufacture at butter and cheese ; the operation of Dean-
stonising, Draining, Irrigating, and Warping, with the
improvements made in them fully described; the value,
nutritive powers, mode of raising, and most advantageous
mode of consuming all kinds of grain, roots, leguminous
plants, and natural and artificial grasses accurately de-
tailed ; and the newest and best agricultural implements
described ; in fact, the volume has been rendered as re-
plete with all the information most valuable to the Farmer
and the Grazier, as it was in the power of the Editor to
make it."

LOSS OF THE COLONIES OF ENGLAND

(TO THE EDITOR OF THE MANCHESTER GUARDIAN.)
_ Glasgow, )3th April, 1846.
. _

SIR,—As in your article on Saturday (FOREIGN AND
COLONIAL TRADE) you grievously misrepresent the
views, against out-and-nut free trade, which I have put
forth in the Scotch Reformers' Gazette, I hope you will
not refuse me the privilege of setting myself right with
readers of the Guardian.

Allow me to say, that there is not a man in England
whose sympathies are more with the working classes than
mine are; indeed, I bave always held that the other
classes or orders in such a society as ours are only a pub-
lic benefit to the extent that, directly or indirectly, they
are of use and assistance to those who labour fur their
bread.

My objection to the principle of Sir Robert Peel's le-
gislation, is, that he regards the poor only as consumers,
and legislates for them only in common with the rich.
(How blessed the poor would be to find themselves so
circumstanced.)

I am of opinion, on the contrary, (as stated in my letter
in the Reformers' Gazette of 4.11 April), that, like the
Americans, THE WHOLE OBJECT OF OUR LEGISLATION
SHOULD BE THE BENEFIT OF THOSE WHO LABOUR.

If, then, you and I are both friends of the people, our
controversy becomes the friendly and generous one of
WHOSE PLAN SHALL BENEFIT THEM MOST.

Now, I object to what you call the principle of free
trade, because I do not call it a principle or system at all,
but just in trade what free-thinking is in religion, a de-
parture from all principle or system, than which the worst
possible embodyment of sincere belief is less fatal or dan-
geroui to the community.
To Sir Robert Peel's tariff, as reducing the protection
on 'manufactured goods, I would object still more than
to the removal of protection to British and colonial corn,
were it not that one of the immediate effects flowing from
the latter, viz.,—the loss of the British American Colo-
nies—would be irremediable.

I frankly admit, however, that with free trade in ma-
nufactures, the retention of a duty on foreign corn ought
not to be submitted to by the British artisan.

These measures must go together, or together be
stopped. _ _

If they pass into law, we will not only lose the trade of
the colonies, but the colonies themselves; and, with them.
firstly, our naval supremacy, and, secondly, Ireland.
With regard to the possibility of retaining the colonies,
I defy the Colonial Minister. or any one else, to show me
any bond of union between Canada and England, after
free trade is introduced.

The fact is, that ignorantly governed as that colony has
been by Downing-street, the loyalists will not be able to
stand their ground against the republicans in Canada
West, if the former are armed with no fact. in favour of
the British Government; and if the monstrous principle
is avowed, that England wants territory in America, not
to benefit, but only to rule, or misrule it !
The Republican tarty in Upper Canada are all free
traders, and a favourite means of gettint, the province free
from England (by making it of no use to the mother
country) used to be the pushing for free trade with the
United States.

In 1836, the Lower House of the Canadian Parliament
(which had then a majority of Republicans) petitioned
the King on this subject, and the following remarks of my
own, in the colocy at the time, I happen to have pre-
served :

" Though addressed to the King, the province is evi-
" dently i,s intended sphere of usefulness. The petition
" carries to the foot of the Throne suggestions, which if
" acquiesced in, would leave Canada of no five to Eng-
" land. In fact, the repeal of our frontier duties would
" at once endanger the connection with England, seeing
"that we could expect nothing less than the repeal as a
" consequence of those laws of the United Kingdom which
"give our produce advantages in the home market, in
" return for our employing the British artisan and ship-
" owner. The Republicans (the present petitioners) will
" then triumphantly say to us, where, now, are all your
" old arguments, to show the value to our farmer of Me
" connection ?"

In the following year (1837) the State of New York
stopped specie payments, by act f the legislature, and we
had thus brought before us more clearly than ever that
even as a protection for our circulation duties on the
frontier were required, and that if free trade had existed,
the only safety for the stocks of our merchants and the
labour of our farmers and mechanics (in Canada they feel
as brethren), would hate been to depreciate our currency
also, and retain our gold, till our neighbours returned to
a specie standard.
1 go into these particulars to show that free trade be-
tween Canada and the United States (the necessary con-
sequence of the introduction of free trade into England),
IS EQUIVALENT TO THE SEPARATION OF THE COLONY
FROM ENGLAND. The Americans will not in turn free
trade with us; and having all the disadvantages of the
trade with the United States, the natural desire of the
Canadians to have the advantages (34 it too, will precipitate
the annexation sooner than the general difference between
the views and habits of the Canadian and the American
would lead parties at a distance to expect it.
The loss of British America thus effected, the empire,
instead of soon being able (through applying enlightened
and active management in these colonies) to raise up a
colonial trade intrinsically as valuable as all our foreign
trade, will have the present colonial trade reduced to the
average of the United States, or about one-fourth the
amount per head that colonists take of British goods.
This is the consummation so devoutly desired by the Ame-
ricans. They will tell you otherwise ; but never let us
forget the sympathisers of 1837 and 1838, nor allow our-
selves to be gulled into the belief that the hearts'-wish of
every Republican is not to see the United States possessed
of Quebec. and monarchy driven from America, and not
to see WASHINGTON'S favouoite project carried out of
annexing to their Reoublic the Gibraltar of our West
Indian colonies, the Bermudas, to make them a nest of
hornets for the annoyance of English commerce in times
of trouble.

You alb() accuse me of ALLEGING THAT THE BRITISH
ARTISAN IS DEPENDANT ON COLONIAL TRADE FOR TIIE

EMPLOYMENT WHICH HE RECEIVES.
Now, I allege no such absurdity, although I think that,
had we for the last twenty years followed a sound and ex-
tensive system of removing to the colonies of our surplus
population, this country might now have been very inde-
pendent of foreign trade. WHAT I ALLEGE IS, THAT
THE ONLY PERMANENT DEPENDENCE OF THE BRI-
TISH ARTISAN IS THE PROSPERITY OF BRITISH
AGRICULTURE, OF WHICH COLONIAL INDUSTRY IS A
BRANCH. I allege, moreover, and that truthfully, that
the Colonial, like the Home trade, has the only limit to
its purchases of manufactures IN the extent of its entire
means, while Brother Jonathan, and all other foreigners.
will not take English goods for one-half the amount even
of that part of their means which they draw from England.
The following extract of my letter of 14th March, in
the Scotch Reformers' Gazelle, will show exactly the
views I expressed :
In a former number it was shown that free trade must
necessarily, in its very nature, lose us the colonies, be-
cause the principle of protection abandoned, the colonial
system (which is a mere branch of it) falls also, or, what
is to my mind far worse (and could only last a year or
two), the colonies become a drag on the empire, having
ceased to benefit the mother country in any way after
they have thrown off the Imperial Parliament's right to
legislate for their trade, and commenced free trade with
all the world.
But I argue for the retention of the colonies only, be-
cause it is the interest of England.
I hold that it were better for England to lose her colo-
nies, magnificent though these be, than to for ear doing
anything which is shown to be clearly in favour of the
oppressed population in this country.
Though I before pointed out that the adoption of free
trade would necessarily lose the colonies (whose markets
there is no reason for us going to the expense of defend-
ing, unless our manufactures are protected there), I do not
pretend to argue that, to save the colonies, for their sake
alone, should prevent us adopting free trade in Englaed,
if the greater and more immediate interests of the mother
country would be advantaged thereby.
Far, however, from this being the case, I view free
trade as tending to reduce the extent of our own manu-
factures, to degrade the condition of our manufacturers,
and thus to secure for the aristocracy by-and-bye a mono-
poly of political power in England. as rendering it in
character more an agricultural country than at present !
In fact I view that free trade is suicide on the part of
Mr. Cobden end the weavers. I cannot suppose any
way by which Sir Robert Peel has secured the support of
those independent members of the aristocracy, who are
favourable to his measure, in the face of the scorn of
their friends, and the inward contempt of their former
political adversaries, and by their seeing it to be the ul-
timate interest of their class.
Sir Robert Peel may have shown them that, as they in-
dividually are now able to submit to a loss, they should
do so. as this would be the only means of rolling back the
tide of popular feeling in politics, and securing the re-
duction of every interest in the country into the narrow
limit the formerly enabled them to control the govern-
ment of the country.
Sir Robert Peel's measure, in fact, as he well knows,
while it puts all interest down, puts down the manufac-
turing interest more than any other, and will eventually
make it a secondary int, rest in England.
Sir Robert Peel's measure may deprive the landlords
of luxuries, or even comforts, which an artificial state of
society has named necessaries, but the weaver will be de-
prived of actual employment (as a weaver): tins,
Ist. The landlords who are not driven to become ab-
sentees will not be able to pay for seventy-five per cent.
(or three-fourths) the amount of goods they now take,
and a large part of that diminished quantity will be fo-
reign manufactures.
2d. The tenants and agricultural labourers, even if
they take as many goods (a thing impossible), will, like
the other classes of the community, prefer
i some (less or
ff
more) foreign articles, and thus a falling en the manu-
facture of the British article will accrue; but as the Bri-
tish agriculturists and weavers will both have to compete
with foreigners of less expensive habits or modes of life,
who are, in fact, content with coarser food than the Eng-
lish get in workhouses, and do not require the same
amount of fuel or clothing—their views in these respects
must, no doubt, come down to prevent them starving;
amid so cruel a competition (foreigners having the use of
British markets, but not the British in foreign markets).
3d. The co'onies will, in the same way, take fewer Bri-
tish goods, und,r free trade between each colony and 01l
the world even if their means of buying were not reduced.
It is self-evident, however, that, to the extent that their
wheat, or their sugar, or their timber produces less money,
l in
madedemand
up
to from
him Britishby
a
they must take fewer goods.
4th. The manufacturer will not have all these deficien-
ciesea similaran
d it
o hr o
greater favoured
amount of
increase in the foreign demand. On the contrary, in-
stead rgttera m
nchar).
stead of increasing, the foreign demand will gradually
fall of ; governments abroad will, by their duties, prohibit
British goods the more they see that they can in British
gold for their products Sad for a few years that impulse

April 14, 1846.

for their domestic manufactures which hitherto they have
wanted, but which in a few years would not only create in
an increased manufacturing population a great enduring
home market for their produce (enduring if they don't
take up free trade theories), but enabled them to compete
wi►h England in other foreign markets, if not in England
itself.

So that the independent aristocracy see, that though
the ordeal will be a fiery one to their neighbours whose
lands are in debt, and a more fiery one still to the manu-
facturers, or rather weavers, the final result will assuredly
be, that the landowners will be the permanently predomi-
nant and popular or powerful interest, the weavers having
been one-half driven back again to the fields by want of
manufacturing employment. The effect, in fact, of Sir
Robert Peel's measure will be to prevent all progress iti
manufvrturing, and reduce the whole of the interests of
the country into a narrower compass, in which, in the
way I have pointed out, agriculture will loom the largest.
not because large, but because all other interests have
been made smaller in proportion by Sir Robert Peel's
liberal measure.

Without imputing improper, or rather dishonourable
motives to Sir It. Peel, we assert, beyond the fear of
contradiction, that at present he is the means of mislead-
ing the public mind. Toward the end of his great speech
on the evening of the Nth ult., he says :

And suppose the tenant said, " But this is a labourer's ques-
tion ?" I should answer, " Then, my good fellow, if we make
this land, which now produces three quarters, produce five
quarters, we shall employ more labourers. There will be a
greater demand for labour, and all parties will be benefited.
The estate will be benefited : the guarantee for the rent will be
improved; your comfort will be increased; there will be more
labour employed ; and all this by the application of a little of
that savi g which the hon. gentleman says the rich are to derive
from the tariff I introduced." (Loud cheers.)

Those business men who cheered Sir Robert Peel knew
full well, if he did not, that his remark, if true of any
land, is only true of the very best land ; and that showing
that some lands would grow two-thirds more wheat, is
just showing that the price of wheat would be so reduced
with free trade as to make it necessary to throw the
poorer lands (such as would yield no more than the pre-
sent crops) into woods or grass, as being worth no rent at
all for purposes of cultivation.

If the Poorer lands are thrown out of cultivation, it
will be impossible to make up the loss out of an increase
of even two-thirds on the better lands, and there will be
nothing like the means in the country to buy manufac-
tures.

Mr. Hudson, in his speech, states—
That the probable average price of corn under the new bill
would be from 355. to 40s. a quarter.

The hon. member's calculation will prove quite correct.
Let us suppose a farm now let thus—
Ina acres. at 3 per acre

Produces 300 quirters at a clear profit. of 265. Ild, equal to.

Remaining to the tenant.

... £lOO

I assume that neither tenant nor agricultural labourer
will, till absolute necessity compels it, work for less than
at present; and that the first brunt of this free trade in
corn will come on the two extremes, the landlord and
weaver.

I think that foreign competition will lead to the follow-
ing result in the case of the best lands :
The 100 acres will now be let for one-half
The produce will be raised 50 per cent . so thdt 365. 3d will
do instead of 51s. Iod. (stated by Sir R. Pe 1 to be the
present average), 450 quarters, at Its. Id. clear profit

Leav'ng the same result to the tenant.
But take the case of land whose yield cannot be in-
creased—

The 100 acres will be let for nothing, or
The produce, 300 quarters at 11 s. Id. clear profi

£66 13 4
.166 13 4

Leaving the same result to the tenant. £lOO 0 0
The 100 acres formerly produced 300 quarters, at 515.101. 777 10 0
The 100 now produce 300 quarters at 365. 6d 543 15 0

The ability of the country trade is reduced, or one-third.f 233 ]5 0

But the landlord could not stand by and see his pro-
perty wholly sacrificed, so that his land will be forced
back into grass or woods, as the colonies will be forced out
of our hands by the competition of fereign corn, instead
of, as Sir Robert Peel assures us, cresting more employ-
ment or labour for the surplus population of the country !
You will thus see clearly my position to be, that (as it
is only by their labour that the people can attain pro-
visions) the self-evident proposition is, that no amount of
"FOOD IN THE COUNTRY" would be of benefit to the
poor if it is not paid for in BRITISH LABOUR.
As anxious only to attain for our oppressed working
classes the nearest approach to "a happy independence,"
I would at once give the people the ray of confidence and
contentment which would flow from their being made to
feel sure that FOR THE FUTURE IHE WHOLE OBJECT or
BRITISH LEGISLATION WILL BE, FIRST TO PROCURE,
AND THEN 10 RENDER PERMANENT, THE LARGEST
amount OF EMPLOYMENT FOR THOSE WHO LABOUR FOB.
THEIR BREAD.

This, in reality (apart from Anti-Corn-law slang and
humbug) is the GREATEST AMOUNT Of BREAD FOR TSB

In the now imminently artificial state of this country,
I would be willing to advance to the extremest point of
liberality to the foreigner to induce a reciprocal trade with
him.

I would even arrange to take his wheat on the same
duty-free footing as home and colonial wheat, if the
foreigner takes payment in the labour of the British
artisan.

I_ would do this as a duty to the working classes, even
if the tearing up of every treaty and parchment in exis-
tence was involved.

But for us to adopt a system that not only gives, but
professes to give, our HARD MONEY TO THE FOREIGNER
TO TAKE TO THE NORTH OF EUROPE AND AMERICA,
FOR THE AVOWED PURPOSE (A W)SI` SENSIBLE AND

PATRIOTIC ONE ON HIS PART) OF BUILDING UP RIVAL
MANUFACTURES TO THOSE OF THE BRITISH MECHANIC,

AND THEN TO ADMIT THESE DUTY FREE TO COMPETE

WITH OUR OWN HEAVILY TAXED LABOUR, SEEMS TO
ME TO AMOUNT TO SUICIDE ON THE PART OF BOTH THE
MANUFACTURING AND AGRICULTURAL INTERESTS OP

THIS COHN') RY

I view THE FREE TRADE PROPOSED as only removing
the resit ictions from, and giving freedom to, the industry
of foreign countries.

Far from being an encouragement to native industry,
FREE TRADE PRACTICALLY DENIES THE BRITISH ARTI•
SAN'S RIGHT TO LABOUR, BY TARING AWAY HIS OPPOR-

TUNITY TO DO SO

Small though the exports to the Colonies show in your
tables, it is wonderful to me to see the amounts they are,
knowing how grievously the progress of the Colonies has
been neglected.
Neither the two most practical of purposes—the AME-
LIORATION OF THE CIRCUMSTANCES OF THE BRITISH

ARTISAN, AND THE PROCURING PERMANENT MARKETS
FOR OUR MANUFACTURES, through planting in our Co-
lonies a population with British habits—have come home
to governments, which have not usually been many months
at a time otherwise engaged than in mere struggles for
existence.

The comparative value of Home and Colonial, as com-
pared with Foreign trade, must not be judged by mere
figures.

—lt should be remembered that as much or more profit
accrues, in the Home and Colonial trade, to British sub-
jects on the goods after they leave Manchester as before,
and that the Home and Colonial trades take no gold,
while to the Americans we pay more gold than gools, and
do not materially increase our exports to the United Stitteg;
although in 1815 we took from them 1,499.6'10 bales of cot-
ton, against 329,906 bales in 1822, with a similar increase
in most of our other imports. From the Colonies yoU
have an increasing demand, as the population increases;
but the United States, with a population of twenty mil-
lions, do not take double the quantity of goodiihey did
when a colony, with scarcely over two millions Zra

'Tis true that your tables show a large business with the
Americans in 1835 and 1836, but your readers will
scarcely forget the immense distress through the abrupt
stoppage of the mighty machinery set in motion in Man-
chester and Hudd,r-field to supply fancy goods for a
demand which was so artificial, that the arrival of one
packet from New York blew it all to the Rinds!

(Continued on page 8.)

ZOOLOGICAL GARDENS.—THE COMING
SEASON.
There are few subjects we approach with more gratifi;
cation than that of directing attention to the proeress
local improvements, and as their importance is alike inte-
resting to all, we need offer no apology for the space 1i?
Occupy in giving a brief review of the many beneficial
alterations now in course of completion at the Zoological
Gardens. Mr. Atkins, famed hitherto for havii g rendered
this salubrious retreat unequalled even by the metropolto
itself. has this year used exertions that cannot fail (0,,
elicit the warmt st public approbation. Every importalr
feature of the gardens bas been remodelled. The centr'
fugal railway has b,en so t xtended that those who wish
" a turn in the world" will also have the gratification (0°
"one good turn deserves another") of being curled, bf
the velocity the carriage has gain4d, on a circular line 0
rails round the ornamental parterre to the place fro
whence they originally started. A saloon, capable ?
containing about 3000 persons, which will be principally
dedicated to the muses, is already in a forward state net
erection. The celebrated Mr. Henry Russell will, .91,r
learn, open it ; and with Julien and the leading " lions
of the musical world, a succession of highly interesi
concerts will be kept up. The rising ground at the WI.,
of the lake will be converted into a view of Edinburgh'
and from a model we have seen, we have no hesitaticibl;
saying it will surpass anything hitherto presented•
scene is taken from the castle moat—a p'aition that give
advantageous views of the ancient fortification, the.gae'a
dens, Sir Walter Scott's statue, the city, the ut
national monument, and all the intervening and beautifully
wooded hills between this mochrn Athens and Mrsba)ol
which are so richly coloured and so admirably minh'ss
in the distance, where they soften with the clouds of l'ht,
ture, that they leave the spectator doubting whelherthe
gazes on reality or fiction. The time selected fortoi..
scene is that of the Queen's Visit, which gives oefortuavet
ties for those gorgeous coloured illuminations thatlrbe
given such indescribable beauty to previous scenes.. "pa
menagerie has been greatly increased—four splend:dsi
have been added, as also have numerous other en'lltiog
and Mr. Atkins has so far succeeded in domesttc_..cv.
many of the mast ferocious tribes, that they will
sionally appear in one den. The refreshment salon deed
been refitted, and will be conducted by Mr. Fisk ; nes
uothing cooduciye to public accommodation has beer'
glected. f
To one other fact would we draw the attentionl,?
Sac
readers, to the reduction in the price of annual tattle are
missions, which are now so low, that we trust titer
and
soa
few who will not avail themselves of the opporlonit„n'g or
as there is no man who has been more entrrptl7:oosf;
more successful in catering for intellectual public 0 still
ment that Mr. Atkins, we hone his honest 3.1:).P of to
meet with that :iberal, that deserved reward,
and anxiety has merited.

April 14, 1846.